A Donegal County Councillor has called for greater clarity around delivery timelines and workforce planning for the proposed new Community Hospital in Lifford.
Cllr Gary Doherty was speaking following a meeting of the Regional Health Forum this afternoon.
He welcomed confirmation that capital approval has been granted for a new 25-bed short-stay Community Hospital alongside a new Primary Care Centre on a site owned by Donegal County Council.
It was confirmed that first-stage tenders for the Design Team have been completed and that an appointment is anticipated in Q3 2026, following the second-stage tender process.
However, Cllr Doherty said that while progress on procurement is welcome, the community needs greater visibility on overall delivery timelines.
“People in Lifford and across Donegal are very supportive of this project, but understandably they want to know what the roadmap looks like from here,” he said.
“The appointment of a design team is an important step, but we now need clarity around indicative timelines for detailed design, tender for construction, and ultimately when the hospital will be built and opened.”
Cllr Doherty also raised the issue of workforce planning, stating that recruitment must run in parallel with the capital build.
“A hospital is not just bricks and mortar, it is people. A 25-bed short-stay facility will require significant clinical, administrative and support staff.”
“Recruitment in Donegal can be challenging, so it is important that workforce planning begins early. We must ensure that when the building is ready, the staff are ready too.”
The project remains subject to statutory and capital approvals under the governance processes of the Health Service Executive.
Cllr Doherty concluded by saying he will continue to engage constructively with the HSE to ensure the project progresses steadily.
“This is a very important development for Lifford and the wider Donegal area. I want to see consistent progress, clear communication, and a joined-up approach to both construction and staffing so that this facility can open as quickly as possible once approvals are secured.”
