James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have met the two chairpersons of two of the new hospital groups. They are acutely aware of the need to make sure that services are delivered as near to home as possible, in the most cost-effective fashion, but that the services are also safe. That will be a benefit of these groups, because they will allow for a "buddy up" of services.

Rather than services closing, smaller units will have the support of the bigger unit in the hospital group to ensure that they can deliver a standard of care that is safe, efficient and will deliver best outcomes for patients, mothers and babies.