Call for increased budget and capital allocations for Sligo amid escalating demand on health services

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

There was unanimous support for a motion before the May meeting of Sligo County Council calling on Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for Finance Simon Harris to provide an increase in funding to expand nurse and midwife led services in the north west.

Cllr Edel McSharry’s motion called on the Ministers to “Urgently provide increased budgetary and capital allocations to the north west, specifically Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal to expand nurse and midwife led services across acute and community settings in response to escalating demand.

“Latest figures show 903 patients on trolleys in Sligo University Hospital in April alone, an increase of 373 on April 2025 levels, outside the winter surge, highlighting sustained system pressure.

I think there is a lack of efficiency in the HSE

“While initiatives such as ICPOP have demonstrated impact in reducing hospital admissions, they require significant scaling alongside enhanced home care hours, additional residential capacity and workforce investment.

“Notwithstanding the long-awaited 42-bed unit approved seven years ago, this Council emphasises the urgent need for forward planning, including further acute bed capacity, to meet the region’s ageing demographic, where over 65s account for 16% of the population compared to 7% in Dublin and the associated 19% rise in hospital admissions among those aged over 75.”

Speaking to the motion Cllr McSharry said she was calling for, “Timely access to safe and dignified healthcare.”

Cllr McSharry stressed, “This is not just a health issue, it is an issue of regional equity.”

Calling for greater equity across the country, Cllr McSharry added, “I am calling on the Ministers for Health and Finance to increase allocations to the north west to build health care capacity. Our community needs and deserves better.”

The motion was supported by Cllr Seamus Kilgannon who referred to the surplus of funding noting, “We have an aging population.”

Cllr Kilgannon added, “Our leaders are neglecting us and neglecting us very badly in terms of healthcare.”

Cllr Michael Clarke also voiced his support for the motion saying, “I agree with Cllr Kilgannon’s remarks, we are the poor relations.” Reiterating that point, Cllr Clarke referred to a, “Complete neglect of the north west.”

The debate concluded with Cllr McSharry remarking, “I think there is a lack of efficiency in the HSE. My view is the funds need to go to the coalface.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.