Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to acknowledge that the Donegal model of having a large number of community hospitals in the county, with relatively well developed home-care and home help services, is a good model for the rest of the country. In addition to the ten beds provided in Letterkenny hospital, the model has helped us and is one of the factors which have allowed Letterkenny and Donegal to perform so well during this winter period. Letterkenny is one of the few places in the country where hospital overcrowding has reduced substantially on last year, which is evidence of the additional beds working and the strength of the community services.

The Deputies opposite may have the view this is the last ever announcement which will be made on investment in homes for elderly people. This is not the case. This is one announcement, and there will be future announcements in the coming months and years about the services. The points from the Deputies opposite on future capacity were very well made, and there will be need for additional capacity in Donegal and elsewhere. Most additional capacity in nursing homes is now provided by the private sector through the fair deal arrangements, and this is the case throughout the country. What the announcement was about in particular was replacing older facilities and bringing them up to compliance with HIQA regulations. This does not mean there will not be future announcements of future developments and future nursing homes and community hospitals being provided.

Specifically on Lifford, Ramelton and Stranorlar, I do not envisage they will be closed because of the reasons the Deputies stated, namely, rising demand. They will be needed. What will have to be worked out over the coming period is the mix of services to be provided. As the Deputies know, the standards for respite, short-stay and step up and step down facilities are different to those for long-stay facilities. It may very well be the case these units will have to be refurbished to allow them to continue to have long-stay beds and to provide for other needs, such as respite, short stay and step up.

Nobody in the House can give any cast iron guarantees because the Dáil will most likely be dissolved in the coming days and a new Government will be elected.

I cannot give the Deputy any cast iron guarantees, nor can anyone else in this House offer such guarantees about the future with any level of honesty, because we do not know what complexion the future Government will have. Suffice to say that what has been announced will be done. It is not intended to close any of these three units, but we will have to work out, in co-operation with the local HSE, how they can best be used and what mix of services will be there in the future.

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