Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)

I want to raise the ongoing debacle and farcical situation regarding the placement of a surgical hub in the north west. I live in Sligo. We were assured that a surgical hub would be provided in Sligo University Hospital. We were assured by the Minister of State, Deputy Marian Harkin, that part of the deal of going in with the Lowry group was that the surgical hub would be based in Sligo.

At a HSE regional health forum meeting in April, it was stated that plans were progressing and Sligo would be the base for the hub. I will in no way try to pit Donegal against Sligo. We need a surgical hub in both areas. I know Senator Manus Boyle has raised this significant issue, as have GPs, consultants and patients in Letterkenny. There has been a really good lobbying campaign for a surgical hub in Sligo.

We were assured that a business case was made for the surgical hub to be based in Sligo. My colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, asked a parliamentary question in the Dáil on 24 June about what was part of the Lowry deal. He was assured that no deals were done with the Lowry Independents regarding HSE infrastructure. The Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Caroll MacNeill, said she has not received any business case for the surgical hub to be based in Sligo. Can we find out who is telling the truth and where the surgical hub will be based? We should not have a Dublin-centric model. It seems that we are cut off, from Galway up to the north west.

We need two surgical hubs. I hope it is not a case of divide and conquer. We need clarity. We need to find out who is telling the truth and when the information will be released. Patients and families are waiting. We are all getting fed up of the divide and conquer attitude towards the north west.