Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed with the answer that the best the HSE can do is to provide a temporary service in Galway. A service existed in Galway anyway. This is not something new. There is a cath lab in Galway. It is totally inappropriate to suggest that is the best that can be done. Why can a temporary cath lab not be supplied in Sligo now? Why can that not be the plan? There is no mention of anything happening in Sligo University Hospital.

A previous Topical Issue discussed a school operating in temporary accommodation for the past 11 or 12 years. Temporary can very quickly become semi-permanent and totally inadequate. We fear that is what will happen with this. The clear message from the people of the north west is that the Government needs to step up to the mark on this issue. We cannot be left without a cath lab service in the north west and in Sligo University Hospital. It must be put in place. There are no excuses. There is no other way of doing it. It must be put in place. I appeal to the Minister of State to go back to the senior Minister and express those views. These are not just the views of Deputy Harkin and me. They are the views of all the other Deputies, representatives and people of the north west who feel very let down and very cross about this situation. The Government simply must deliver it and do so now.

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