Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the proposal made by Senator Hopkins in respect of Portiuncula University Hospital. As chairman of the then Western Health Board, I had the honour of signing the contract to take over operation of the hospital in 2011 for £11 million. The former Taoiseach and Minister for Health and Children, Brian Cowen, initiated the purchase as it was very important that the hospital be brought under State control.It is important, as Senator Hopkins said, that it is refurbished now. It, and the other hospitals in the region, including Roscommon University Hospital, are very important. My wife Mary and I have had good experiences with Portiuncula Hospital over the years, and many very happy events have happened there. I am delighted that Senator Hopkins has raised this here today, as this is a good vehicle for raising such issues and to say to the Minister that we need fair distribution of funding to allow for the continued development of the hospital in Ballinasloe. I hope the national children's hospital is not sucking all the capital out of the Department of Health and depriving worthy projects, such the new unit that is needed in Roscommon University Hospital. We need to work together as Oireachtas Members in the interests of both the hospitals in the region.