Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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652. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the consultation being carried out by his Department in respect of the report submitted by the HSE in respect of the future of the accident and emergency department at Portlaoise Hospital; the meetings carried out to date as part of the consultation; the length of time it is expected to continue; the person chairing this process; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12806/18]

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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657. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he reconciles plans from the HSE to close accident and emergency services in Portlaoise General Hospital in view of the overcrowding in accident and emergency departments throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12822/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 657 together.

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital. A draft plan was submitted to my Department in December 2016. This draft report was reviewed in detail and was the subject of detailed engagement between Department officials and the HSE over the course of a number of months. Significant additional work was also undertaken by the HSE on foot of this engagement resulting in a revised draft plan that was submitted to my Department in September 2017. It remains the case, as outlined at my meeting with you and the other Laois Oireachtas members in December 2017, that no decision has been made yet on the draft Action Plan for Portlaoise Hospital. I have asked my Department to conduct a consultation process in this regard involving local clinicians and the community and this is currently under consideration.