Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief on this issue, although it is really important. I agree with the Deputy. I want this unit to remain open. I am meeting tomorrow with midwives from Cavan General Hospital and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO. As the Deputy rightly said, the national maternity strategy is very clear in this regard. Women need more choice with regard to birth and pregnancy. Midwife and community-led schemes are very important and fundamental parts of the national maternity strategy. My Department was not informed of any intention to merge the services. On 5 June, the national women and infants programme applied for a drawdown of the new development funding being provided for maternity services in 2020. Included in this funding is funding for an advanced midwifery practitioner in Cavan to provide additional senior midwifery expertise. I absolutely intend to meet with the RCSI group. This cannot go ahead. I will update the Deputy after tomorrow's meeting.

See this speech in context