Following on from commitments in the programme for Government, I have raised here for a long time the issue of University Hospital Kerry with the Minister. I was concerned that our hospital was being downgraded by stealth. We have a serious problem with recruitment and retention of staff. Recently we have had the resignation of a consultant oncologist. Other senior staff are resigning at alarming rates. I want an assurance from this Government and from the Minister for Health that our university hospital in County Kerry will receive every assistance possible from the HSE, that we will not play second fiddle to County Cork or anywhere else and that our hospital will retain the services it has and have adequate budgets made available to it, its management team and the workers in the accident and emergency department, including the nurses. We need support, we need backup and we need this hospital to continue to provide the invaluable service it provides in our county.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an cheist. I assure the Deputy that the smaller, more rural hospitals will have an increasing role to play in the future delivery of healthcare under the Sláintecare plan as it is rolled out and implemented over the coming years and that there is no threat to the future of Kerry hospital. We are well aware that recruitment is a challenge in Kerry hospital, as it is in Bantry General Hospital and many other similar hospitals. We are undertaking a number of measures at present to try to address this, but I can assure the Deputy that there is no threat to the future of the hospital. It will play a very central role in the delivery of healthcare to his constituents for many years to come.