Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his timetable for the development of a regional hospital for the north-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7536/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to ensuring that acute hospital services at national, regional and local level are provided in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. In particular I want to ensure that as many services as possible can be provided safely in smaller, local hospitals. In order to fully consider the issues involved, I am being briefed by my Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the organisation of acute services in each region and on the important clinical programmes being developed by the HSE. These inter-related programmes aim to improve service quality, effectiveness and patient access and to ensure that patient care is provided in the service setting most appropriate to individuals' needs.

The question of developing a single regional hospital in the north east is of relevance in this regard. However, having regard to the capital resources that are likely to be available over the coming years, the focus at present must be to continue developing integrated, well functioning services in the Cavan / Monaghan and Louth / Meath Hospital Groups.