Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider part funding the running of Daisy Hill Hospital from the shared Ireland unit to allow it to serve the populations of east Monaghan and north Louth. [26813/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to deepening North-South cooperation, including in the health sector. The Department of Health collaborates closely with its counterpart in Northern Ireland on healthcare issues and there is ongoing engagement both at official level, and formally through the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). While responsibility for considering the scope for Shared Island funding lies with the relevant policy department in this jurisdiction, in this case the Department of Health, operational decisions in relation to the running of Daisy Hill Hospital are a matter for the authorities in Northern Ireland. There are numerous examples of practical, positive cooperation North South in the health sector, including with the provision of financial assistance from the Shared Island Initiative. Cancer care is a particularly salient example of the benefits of an all-island approach. In June 2023, the Minister for Health announced €5 million of funding, in conjunction with the Shared Island Initiative, for the construction of Daisy Lodge, a therapeutic short break centre in Cong, Co. Mayo, for children with cancer and their families and offers support services to children across the island. Additionally, the North-West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, a £66 million capital development project, has been funded on a North-South basis since 2016.In overall terms, the Government is continuing to pursue opportunities for collaborative investment in implementing the Shared Island priorities in the National Development Plan (NDP). These investment priorities and commitments will be delivered in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government partners.