A protest will take place tomorrow at 4pm at Buncrana Community Hospital, where members of the public will gather and line the paths around the nursing unit to peacefully demonstrate the strength of feeling within the community at the delay in works at the hospital
Councillor Joy Beard has expressed deep frustration and anger following confirmation that the long-awaited redevelopment works at Buncrana Community Hospital have been pushed back yet again.
Planning permission for the redevelopment was granted in September 2024 and the project is intended to significantly improve the facility.
The plans include a single-storey extension with additional single-bed rooms, improved visitor facilities and upgrades to the existing building to create a modernised unit for residents. The works will reconfigure the building to provide 30 single occupancy rooms, including long-stay and respite beds, as well as a full refurbishment and modernisation of the kitchen.
However, despite repeated commitments that the project would move ahead, Cllr Beard said the community has once again been let down.
“We had genuinely hoped to see work starting any day now. Instead, we wake up to the news that the project has been delayed yet again. It is extremely frustrating and deeply disappointing for the entire community.
“After years of waiting, people believed progress was finally about to happen. There was a real sense that we were finally going to see work on the ground, only to be let down once again.”
Cllr Beard said the ongoing delays are having a real and distressing impact on families across Buncrana and the wider Inishowen area.
“Families are travelling significant distances to visit loved ones who have had to relocate because beds are not available locally. These are elderly people who should be able to remain close to their families and their community. That is not right and it is not fair.”
Cllr Beard said the patience of the community is wearing thin and rightly so.
“This hospital is not just a building. It is a vital service for the people of Buncrana and Inishowen. We have to demand answers into the constant delays, this is simply not good enough.
Cllr Beard is now encouraging the community to come together and show their support for a peaceful protest organised by Inish Theatre Group, alongside families, friends and supporters of residents past and present of Buncrana Community Hospital.”
She encouraged people to attend on Saturday and stand with the families who have been impacted by these delays.
“This is about showing the decision-makers that the people of Buncrana and Inishowen will not accept continued delays to such an important service. Our community deserves better and it is time our voices were heard so come out on Saturday and unite to show that the community will not take this any longer.”
Meanwhile, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, has expressed his disappointment in the delay at the commencement of refurbishment works at Buncrana Community Hospital.
Buncrana Community Hospital was granted planning permission for a single-storey extension in September 2024 that will accommodate six one-bed wards for residents, a waiting area and a visitors’ room. There are also plans to convert the existing smoking room into a new day room for residents.
As part of the works the current building will be reconfigured to allow for a total of 30 single occupancy rooms which will accommodate 19 long stay and eleven respite beds. The kitchen will also be completely refurbished and modernised.
“In November 2025, the HSE confirmed to me that construction would commence in the first quarter of 2026. In the latest correspondence received from the HSE, it indicated that the project is currently at pretender approval stage and that works on site will commence in the third quarter of 2026,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy commented.
“The slippage in the delivery timeframe is totally unacceptable, and I have requested an urgent meeting with the HSE to discuss this vital project. A number of beds have been closed awaiting the start of the works. So, the delay means that these beds are out of use for a longer period than necessary and are not available to the local community for their health care needs to be provided for in the local community.
“Donegal was allocated €35.98 million in funding for 24 major health infrastructure projects through the Health Service Capital Plan for 2026. Included in those projects was the refurbishment of Buncrana Community Nursing Unit which was allocated €1,403,500.
“It’s vital that this project is delivered in the fastest time frame possible and that these beds are reopened and available to the community,” the Donegal Minister of State added.
Local councillor, Fionán Bradley, also expressed his disappointment at the situation.
“This latest setback is extremely frustrating. I will continue to liaise with the HSE along with Minister McConalogue to ensure this project is progressed urgently,” Cllr Bradley commented.
“Buncrana Community Hospital is a massive asset to the entire area. I know first-hand how important this project is to the people of Buncrana, and it is completely unacceptable that it has consistently been beset by delays.
“It simply isn’t good enough and I will continue to do all I can with Minister McConalogue to make sure that the refurbishment works get underway without delay,” he added.
