Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I welcome what the Minister of State has said, particularly with regard to the endocrinologist who will be appointed in January and the fact there are no plans to remove or downgrade the existing services. She has stated that the work of the expert group is continuing and will determine the final shape of any model for service delivery. I hope that whatever decision or recommendation is made by that group, it will not involve any downgrading or removal of services at Lettterkenny General Hospital. I ask her to bear that in mind when decisions are being formulated, because the level of service delivery is vitally important to the families and children who use the service at the hospital. It is a hospital which is endeavouring to deal with the difficult financial constraints it is under but which provides an excellent level of care, which can only be enhanced by the decision to appoint an endocrinologist and specialist nurse. We appeal to the Minister of State to try and ensure that money is ring-fenced to provide the nurse specialist treatment that is required by the patients.