Updated 10.55
The group responsible for Letterkenny General Hospital says it would be happy to co-operate with any independent inquiry into flooding at the facility.
The Chief Operating Officer of the West-North West Hospital Group, Tony Canavan, says he understands concerns about the site, which has flooded twice in the last 12 months. Local politicians are calling for an independent inquiry into why the hospital was allowed to be built in a flood-prone area.
An estimated €40m of damage was caused in last year’s disaster, and last night the Emergency Department was closed for three hours as emergency crews worked to remove flood waters.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene at 7 O'Â’clock, after over 40mm of rain fell in just 15 minutes. Hospital authorities then decided to close the Emergency Department, until just before midnight.
During last night's temporary closure, patients were diverted to hospitals as far away as Altnagelvin, and Sligo - located over 100 kilometres away.
Mr Canavan says management has already launched its own investigation, but he would be happy to take part in any further inquiry:
Area TD Padraig MacLoclainn told Newstalk's Pat Kenny show the planning decision was made at Council level, but Councillors assume applications have already been approved from the point of view of flooding concerns:
Councillor Gerry McMonagle says only an independent inquiry will do:
The carpark at Letterkenny Regional Hospital | Image: Newstalk reporter Richard Chambers
The carpark of Letterkenny Hospital is built in a basin | Image: Newstalk reporter Richard Chambers
Charlie Joe McGinley is Deputy Editor of the Donegal News in Letterkenny - he gave Newstalk's Breakfast the latest:
