The Minister for Health has visited a hospital in Co. Donegal where his Junior Minister in intensive care in a hospital in Co. Donegal.

James Reilly visited Junior Minister Kathleen Lynch who was admitted to the intensive care unit in Letterkenny General Hospital earlier today.

The Junior Minister was visiting the hospital to inspect damage caused by flooding last week when she was taken ill.

Minister Lynch opened a new wing at Letterkenny General Hospital last year.

Before her scheduled speech at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties this afternoon the Minister paid a visit to the hospital to inspect the damage caused by the heavy rains last Friday.

While she was there she was taken ill and was admitted to intensive care unit. It is thought that her illness may be a recurrence of a previous medical condition.

Her husband Bernard - who is also the minister's assistant - is with her.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the Minister was in good spirits and hoped to be back on her feet in the coming days.

The organiser of the MacGill Summer School Joe Mulholland explained why she was there.