Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While it is welcome that the Government has revised its plans to close the three hospitals, in particular with regard to St. Joseph's and Ramelton until such time as we actually see the funding allocated to bring them up to HIQA standards, the Minister of State will forgive the people of Donegal, in particular in Ballybofey, Stranorlar and its surrounding area and Ramelton for not having faith in the Government. They need to see the works commenced, the plans designed and the funding allocated. I want to zone in specifically on the situation with regard to Lifford Community Hospital. The response from the Minister of State today, and the responses we received previously, indicate that the Government does not plan to upgrade the existing hospital on the existing site, that the Government does not see it as viable but that it has no plans to look until after 2021 at what the future might hold. Councillor Gerry Crawford in the area has done lot of work on this. He raised it as recently as the March meeting of the HSE's health forum. Again, he was told it will be 2021 before the Government looks at future plans for Lifford Community Hospital. I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the HSE to start to identify a new site in Lifford so work and planning can commence to ensure there is a community hospital and long-term beds in the Lifford area to serve the community there as well as the communities in Stranorlar and Ramelton.

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