Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

One might ask why such fundraising is necessary but it put a spotlight on a remote hospital that is hugely important to me. It forced the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Minister for Health and Children, who subsequently had to visit the hospital to launch the CT scanner, to examine the importance of such hospitals in Ireland, including areas like Letterkenny. Approximately €250,000 was raised for the machine in Bantry and the community got behind the drive for a CT scanner. The position was that the only dedicated ambulance in Bantry had to rush patients to Cork as many as ten times per week, often leaving west Cork without a dedicated ambulance for a full day. While in one sense I understand the sentiments expressed by my colleague, Senator Coghlan, this case highlights that community involvement can be good.