Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will bring all the suggestions that the Deputy raised back to the Minister for Health, particularly the second nurse issue and his major point that the people of County Donegal should be treated equally to those in the rest of the country. I know the Deputy is a supporter of cross-Border services. This is particularly relevant to County Donegal. The primary percutaneous coronary intervention, pPCI, service provided through Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry - a cross-Border cardiology project - became operational on 4 May 2016. This service provides pPCI services at the area hospital in Derry for patients with a diagnosed heart attack in County Donegal. Patients are also referred to a state-of-the-art new cardiac laboratory at the same hospital. These things are happening in terms of the delivery of health services.

It is also important to remember that, in terms of budget allocations, model 3 hospitals, of which Letterkenny University Hospital is one, were allocated amounts ranging from €57 million to €141 million in 2016 and that Letterkenny University Hospital was resourced towards the top of that range at approximately €120 million. We will invest in services. We need to develop them. I will bring the Deputy's message about the second nurse being made available and the development of services for the people of County Donegal back to the Minister.

See this speech in context