Connolly Hospital is pivotal in the provision of care to the local community. It’s campus size and location provide a platform, not alone for the retention of all current specialties and services but would also provide the opportunity for further expansion to meet the health demands locally.

I welcome the announcement from the Health Service Executive to provide funding for full time beds in St. Francis Hospice from 2014. The funding has been incorporated in the HSE's service plan for 2014 and I hope this commitment is honoured in full. St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown was built and developed to provide palliative care to patients in the final period of their lives. This multi-faceted service provides dignity, support and care to families and their loved ones. Funding from the HSE will enable the hospice to provide full time beds in addition to its current day care and community based home care. This announcement is a victory for community activism and the work and endeavour of so many members of our community in fundraising, progressing and driving this initiative must be remembered.