Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The reality is that although there are ongoing pressures on certain services at Letterkenny University Hospital - I fully accept that and have visited the hospital many times - there has been a very significant increase in capacity in the hospital and in services delivered by the hospital in the lifetime of this Government. The budget has increased by a quarter. The number of staff has increased by a quarter, growing by 437. There are 437 more healthcare workers working in that hospital compared with when the Government came into office. That is a very serious statement of intent of investment and growth for the people of Donegal and Letterkenny. Probably most important, the Deputy will have seen the new beds plan. Between the beds we have delivered and the extra beds we have now committed to, we are looking at an extra 122 beds at Letterkenny University Hospital. Do we need to continue to focus on the ED? We do. Do we need to continue to focus on the neurology, oncology and diabetes services the Deputy and I have spoken about? We do. I want the people of Donegal to be very clear that there is much-deserved, much-needed and very important ongoing investment and growth in Letterkenny University Hospital

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