Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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316. To ask the Minister for Health the outcome of discussions which he has had with various consultants, regarding the possibility of hosting yearly and twice-yearly clinics in Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, for children with rare diseases, which at present take place in both Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12 and in Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin 1; when such clinics are expected to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17420/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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At a meeting on 4th February with Deputy Joe McHugh and parents of children with rare diseases, I expressed my willingness to explore the possibility of Dublin-based consultants travelling to Letterkenny to host clinics for this cohort of patients. My Department has requested that the HSE engage with the appropriate consultants to assess the feasibility of this approach and report on the matter as soon as possible.

I consider that there is a strong case for us to look at the health care needs of patients in West Ulster, given that travelling distances are so far to Galway and Dublin.