Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask the Minister about hospitals, particularly in regional areas. Portiuncula University Hospital is in the HSE's capital plan. We have a 50-bed unit there that I hope will move on to the second stage of procurement and that construction will start in January or February of the coming year. We have Roscommon University Hospital where there are many good things happening, such as the expansion of the rehabilitation unit that will be based in Roscommon.

Ballinasloe has waited for 25 years for a primary school. Planning permission will shortly be submitted and I ask that it will be part of the capital spend by the Department of Education. Schools are crucial, particularly in regional and rural areas. This particular school is a Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, level 1 school so it is an area of disadvantage.

Finally, I wish to mention broadband and cycleways. Broadband is an infrastructure that encourages people to live and work locally. I ask that the broadband project is accelerated as much as possible.