The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital which takes account of the need to develop services at Portlaoise in the context of developing the model of service provision for the entire Hospital Group. The draft plan has been submitted to my Department and it is being reviewed in detail. Once there is an agreed position on the draft plan, there will be further engagement with all interested parties, including Houses of the Oireachtas members, to ensure that the needs of patients, staff, the local and wider community are addressed.