Welcome for €35m of funding for dozens of health service developments in Donegal

The approval of €35m of funding for dozens of health service developments in Donegal under the Health Service Executive’s capital plan for 2025 has been welcomed.

The Donegal funding, which is part of €1.33 billion allocated nationally, was announced this week by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. 

The spending includes the construction of the new 110-bed community hospital in Letterkenny, the proposed expansion of renal dialysis at the hospital which would expand capacity from 14 to 21 and detailed design for the extension to existing chronic disease management hub at St Conal’s, Letterkenny to provide support accommodation.

There will be detailed design carried out of a new extension at the Donegal Hospice in Letterkenny to provide four bedrooms with family/visitor accommodation and the conversion of existing bedrooms to administration/clinical use.

Read next: Garda concern after Letterkenny 'sting' by private group targeting child predators

In Donegal Town, funding has been allocated for detailed design of the new day services centre for adults with intellectual disabilities at the Cleary Centre. 

The refurbishment of the 35-bed community nursing unit at Falcarragh has been allocated funding for construction.

The renovation of the old HSE health centre in Buncrana and conversion to an ambulance base will be appraised.

The funding for the HSE in Donegal also includes the appraisal of  the proposed 25-bed community nursing unit in Lifford and appraisal of the proposed new primary care centre at Lifford. 

Welcoming the funding, Dermot Monaghan, HSE integrated healthcare area manager Donegal, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the funding under the HSE Capital  Plan. This allocation represents projects at varying stages of development. A number of capital projects are underway to improve and enhance access to specialist health and social care for our communities.

“The construction of the new 110 bedded Community Hospital in Letterkenny is well underway and will add much needed capacity to our older persons service once complete.

He said the development at the  Donegal Hospice to provide four new bedrooms with family/visitor accommodation and convert four existing bedrooms into administration/clinical use, is an important enhancement to the service.

“In Letterkenny University Hospital work is planned to relocate the existing AMAU and admin accommodation to a new extension providing six new single rooms. The vacated space will be reconfigured to provide six additional enclosed single ED cubicles, four enclosed ED Paediatric Treatment single cubicles and a stand-alone waiting room.

“All of the improvements in infrastructure underway across the county are vital to enable us to deliver a high-quality service to our communities.”

Donegal Fianna Fáil TD Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher welcomed the inclusion of the Cleary Centre development in Donegal town in the capital plan.   

Read next: ‘I have really enjoyed my time working with the Arranmore crew’

He paid tribute to the Parents and Friends Association of the centre and the HSE project team.

“A range of indoor and outdoor therapeutic spaces will be provided. It will include four large multipurpose rooms with a secure outdoor space, also included will be a physio room, regulation room, training kitchen, laundry room, and a large dining area.  Outdoor recreational spaces as well as a greenhouse will be provided,” he said.

“Planning permission for the development has been granted and I have called on the HSE to invite tenders as soon as practically possible, with a view to commence the building by Q4.”

Fine Gael senator Nikki Bradley also welcomed the  “transformative investment of €35 million to Donegal”.

“Investment in our health service is essential, and today’s announcement, including a new aseptic compounding unit at Letterkenny University Hospital is a strong demonstration of this Government’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible healthcare in our communities.

“For our area, this means direct investment in our hospitals and expanding care units. This is welcome news that will help bring healthcare services closer to home and better meet the needs of patients and families across Donegal.”

Commenting on the publication of the HSE Capital Plan, Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I’m pleased to approve the publication of the HSE capital plan for 2025. This plan continues the delivery of vital healthcare projects across the country and supports the expansion of capacity and reform in how we deliver care.

“The scale of investment reflected in this plan underlines the Government’s focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and progressing toward universal, community-based care.”