Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a question for the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, concerning the future of three community hospitals in Donegal; Ramelton Community Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital in Ballybofey-Stranorlar and Lifford Community Hospital, where the Minister of State attended a public meeting last February. The key issue at stake is whether the investment to bring them up to Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, standards will be forthcoming, and whether there will be a political commitment from the Minister of State and the Government that the long-stay beds at those hospitals will be retained. That commitment has not been clearly given yet. A new community hospital in Letterkenny needs to be expedited to increase capacity in the county. That has to happen alongside the retention and development of long-stay beds at the three community hospitals. Can the Minister of State give that commitment on that, and an update on same?

See this speech in context