Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this issue. Misinformation and disinformation being peddled by people on the doorsteps in the middle of an election campaign is really regrettable. The Senator is right to use this opportunity to allow me to outline to the people of west Cork and south Kerry the investment the Government has made in Bantry General Hospital. I have relations in the area who have been clients or service users of Bantry General Hospital. They have nothing but good words to say about the place in terms of the experience they had there and the level of care they received. It is really regrettable that people would try to spread misinformation that Bantry General Hospital is on a path to closure. It is anything but. I have detailed the significant investment; the ramping up of the operating budget, the number of medical professionals working there and the capacity; and the broadening of the range of services there. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bantry General Hospital is a major priority for the Minister for Health, the Government and the HSE.