Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reality is that a decision was taken by my predecessor, former Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, to build a new unit in Letterkenny and not to proceed in respect of Ramelton or St. Joseph's. The current Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, put a lot of pressure on me, my Department and the HSE to have the decision reversed. We acquiesced and the HSE and Department have agreed to retain the two units but to continue to build the new unit in Letterkenny. When former Minister of State Kathleen Lynch announced the capital programme for Donegal in 2016, the county was allocated €51 million for new projects. That was an enormous contribution on the part of the Government to the older people in Donegal. We have now increased that allocation by a further €6 million to ensure we can retain St. Joseph's and Ramelton community hospitals. We have given that commitment. It was made by the HSE and the Department of Health.

I cannot give the Deputy the capital plan piece by piece across the floor here. The Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, is to publish it. The Deputy will have to wait to see it. I have given the Deputy a commitment that the works in question will be in the capital plan. When it is published, the Deputy will see the commitment delivered on. He can continue to call me a liar, do all he likes, stoke up fear and engage in whatever form of politics he wants but I am not interested and I am getting a bit bored by it. His games and my having to answer the same question time and again are making me a little bored. I suggest, with respect, that the Deputy wait for the capital plan for his local community nursing units, just as every other Member has to do.

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