Jemma Dolan
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Minister, I am really shocked at that response, because I am not aware of any Western Trust engagement on the vision plan. My question was going to be, "Will you outline how you will ensure that the public are aware of this planning, so that they can engage with it?".”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. Last week, the Irish Government announced a further €30 million investment in the Ulster canal restoration project. That is transformative for the communities along the route and will benefit local economies and tourism. What is the current position of the Ulster canal project?”
“They are the result of years of chronic underfunding by successive British Governments and a funding model that has consistently failed to recognise the real needs of people here. That is the root cause of the problem.”
“Our public services are under immense pressure. Health workers, teachers and community organisations are all being asked to do more with less. Communities that have already endured years of austerity continue to feel the impact.”
“However, the second part of the motion is profoundly flawed and contradictory. On the one hand, it welcomes the efforts of local Ministers to press for more funding for public services, while, on the other hand, it states that the Executive are purposely deciding to "impose further austerity" by not agreeing to a Budget.”
“There is an onus on us as elected representatives to deliver better front-line services. However, we cannot get away from the fact that we are a devolved region with limited fiscal powers. Almost all our funding comes through the block grant.”
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“Certainly, there may be other options that can be discussed and considered, but my party will not support measures that put those who are already struggling under even more financial pressure. <BR /> <BR />As a local Assembly, in recent years we have managed to alleviate some of the harms caused by the British Government that would have worsened existing poverty levels through our welfare mitigation measures. However, due to the limitations of devolution, we continue to be negatively impacted by spending decisions taken in London. I suspect that that is likely to be the case again tomorrow in the autumn Budget. <BR /> <BR />There are several measures that the British Chancellor could take to support our local economy and ordinary workers and families, such as a reduction in VAT.”
“That is, of course, another unfortunate legacy of Brexit and a clear example of democratic deficit, as local Ministers are not deciding how the funds should be allocated. I acknowledge the work of the current Finance Minister and his predecessor, who, as a result of negotiations with the British Treasury, have secured an extra £1·3 billion for public services here. They have prioritised delivering more money directly from the Treasury for our public services, and they have delivered on that. That is also a recognition by the British Government that we have not been funded to the correct level of need, which has obviously had consequences for our public-service infrastructure. Putting an additional burden on those who can least afford to pay is not the appropriate way to address the current challenges in our public finances.”
“The community and voluntary sector, which does tremendous work in assisting people to gain skills and enter the workplace, thereby supporting the local economy, was dealt a hammer blow with the loss of EU funding. The initial replacement scheme was, in fact, tens of millions of pounds short of replacing European funding. It has been succeeded by the local growth fund, which, again, fails to recognise our local circumstances, as it is focused more on capital investment than on resources, which are a lifeline for our community and voluntary sector. <BR /> <BR />Treasury needs to listen to our local organisations and be more flexible to ensure that the funding adequately meets our needs.”
“It is certainly right that a multi-year Budget will enable better long-term planning and support the sustainability of our public services. While I share the call for it, it should be remembered that it is just one aspect of delivering better front-line services. <BR /> <BR />For over a decade and a half, our public services have been stripped of resources by successive British Governments who have focused on austerity measures. The Labour Government who were elected last summer have failed to move away from that well-trodden Tory path. One example of that was when the British Chancellor chose in the spring to prioritise investing in militarisation rather than in public services, workers, families and local communities.”
“I again acknowledge those parents who shared their stories with us and thank them for their role in shaping the legislation. One significant aspect of their contributions was that we ensure that the scheme is as accessible as possible. I share the desire that I have heard from others in the Chamber that there should be no unnecessary barriers to people accessing a certificate during a time of immense loss, and I will therefore support the amendment, which prohibits charging for either the original certificate or its copy. <BR /> <BR />While our different political views are often on display here, this legislation is an example of positive changes that, by working together in partnership, this Assembly can provide for people in emotionally challenging circumstances.”
“I welcome the continued progress of the Bill, which modernises our process for registering deaths and stillbirths and introduces a baby loss certificate scheme. It is important legislation with compassion and equality at its core. It will help to reduce stress for those who have suffered a bereavement by enabling the electronic transfer of documents, providing the same rights as others for same-sex female couples and ensuring formal recognition for parents who have lost a baby prior to 24 weeks. <BR /> <BR />During the Committee Stage, it was extremely poignant to hear directly from parents who have had a heartbreaking loss, and I welcome the Finance Minister's commitment to engage with parents to help shape the development of the baby loss certificate scheme.”
“Minister, I welcome the statement. Will you provide more detail on the business growth accelerator that you mentioned?”
“Such projects show the real value of cross-border co-operation, of EU funding and of communities working together to protect what we share. I commend NI Water, Uisce Éireann, the SEUPB and the Department for Infrastructure for their hard work and vision. The WEST project is a fantastic example of partnership in action, and it will make a lasting difference to Fermanagh and for future generations.”
“The WEST project will focus on tackling water pollution in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin and Donegal Bay. Through innovative modelling and sustainable treatment, it will help identify where investment is needed most, no matter from which side of the border the issue comes. In Fermanagh, we will see benefits on the ground, with low-carbon waste water treatment upgrades planned for Belleek and Garrison. The upgrades will improve services for more than 5,000 people, with extra capacity for another 1,000. That is an example of real investment in rural communities that have often been overlooked when it comes to infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />Clean water is vital not only for the environment but for farming, tourism and the health of our people.”
“I want to take a moment today to highlight some really positive news for Fermanagh and our neighbouring counties: the launch of the water enhancements through sustainable treatment project, better known as the WEST project. It is a €32 million cross-border initiative between NI Water and Uisce Éireann that is funded through the PEACE PLUS programme, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It is due to be launched tomorrow at Finn Lough resort on the shores of our own Lough Erne, a fitting setting for a project that is all about protecting and improving our local waterways.”
“Minister, you touched on it briefly, but what action have you taken to encourage Ministers to live within their budget?”
“Minister, thank you for your work on the matter. I know how committed you are to ensuring that we get some follow-up money after the loss of EU funding. What engagement have you had with the community and voluntary sector about the fund?”
“<BR /> <BR />However, it is disappointing that some seek to use this as an opportunity to oppose equality for all couples and to bring amendments that focus on creating division. I remain focused on the compassionate objectives of the Bill in its existing form and the benefits that it will bring to many people, particularly grieving parents. Throughout the Committee Stage, those directly affected by loss during pregnancy made it clear that the scheme should be as accessible as possible, and it is vital that the regulations that follow from the passing of the legislation reflect that. I look forward to the Bill progressing in the compassionate manner with which it has been dealt with to date.”
“<BR /> <BR />The development of a baby loss certificate scheme will give families the opportunity to have formal recognition of their heartbreaking loss and send a clear message to parents who have lost a baby prior to 24 weeks that their love and grief is real and that they are not alone. During the Committee Stage, we heard directly from parents who have suffered such loss. I thank them for their courage in coming forward, sharing their experiences and helping to shape this positive legislation. Their voices must continue to be heard as we move forward. I welcome the commitment from the Finance Minister and his officials that they will continue to engage with those groups while designing the scheme to ensure that it meets their needs.”
“This Bill will ensure that changes that modernised the process for death and stillbirth registration during COVID will be enshrined in permanent legislation. Enabling the electronic transfer of documents will make the registration process for families who have suffered a bereavement easier, reduce stress and improve overall efficiency, while also still allowing people the choice of opting for an in-person process if they wish. Ensuring equality for registering births and stillbirths for same-sex female couples is also an important aspect of the Bill. Moving forward, that will mean that they are able to register in the same manner as opposite-sex parents.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am conscious that many families have faced extremely difficult financial circumstances in recent years due to numerous factors, such as the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Those circumstances will undoubtedly have contributed to the unpaid rates bills that we speak of today. Despite that, in 2025, the overall amount collected in rates increased to a record £1·6 billion. While I believe in compassion and rates support measures that support those on low incomes and encourage investment in businesses and jobs, it is imperative that LPS proactively works to recover, in a fair manner, all the rates that are owed and that legal action is taken against those who continue to refuse to pay.”
“As has been said, rates are a vital source of revenue that the Executive and our councils use to support the delivery of public services. Given the limited taxation levers available to us as a devolved Assembly, I welcome the strategic review of rating, which is looking at measures such as increasing the maximum rates cap from £400,000 to £485,000. That would generate more income in a progressive way. Despite the challenging fiscal circumstances that we face, the Finance Minister has been able to maintain considerable rates support, such as through the Back in Business scheme, which encourages the use of retail space in our towns and villages, and the rates exemption for rural ATMs, which continues to play a significant role in maintaining access to cash in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.”
“Minister, what representations were made to the Treasury in relation to the data breach?”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the commitment by the Minister of Finance to meet the British Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to make the case for more flexibility on the new funding programme as it is crucial that elected representatives here are a strong voice on behalf of our community and voluntary sector.”
“That represents a clear democratic deficit that prevents local Ministers from being able to use their knowledge, expertise and interaction with communities here to create programmes that are tailored to meet the needs of our people. A clear illustration of that is Whitehall's intention that 70% of the local growth fund will be steered towards capital investment. That will lead to a significant reduction in resource funding, which will have a further detrimental impact on voluntary and community groups here that have also had to cope with other decisions that were taken by the British Government in recent years, such as the increase in employer National Insurance contributions.”
“One example of many in my constituency is Action Mental Health New Horizons in Enniskillen, which does phenomenal work but is a victim of that reduction in funding. <BR /> <BR />The Labour Government who were elected 15 months ago may have decided to implement a new successor programme to EU funding, but it appears as though that will continue to fall short of the arrangements and support that we enjoyed prior to Brexit. Unlike the EU investment that was managed by the Executive, who are directly elected representatives of the people here, there is no such input for local representatives into what the British Government have ironically labelled a "local" growth fund.”
“Almost a decade after we were dragged out of the European Union against the democratic wishes of the people of this region, Brexit's harmful legacy continues to reverberate here, particularly in the community and voluntary sector. It was no surprise that the British Government's Shared Prosperity Fund failed to deliver on their promise to replace all EU funding to community and voluntary organisations here. A reduction of tens of millions of pounds in financial support in recent years has had a detrimental impact on groups that do vital work in our local communities, such as supporting people to gain new skills, providing employment opportunities and creating initiatives to tackle poverty.”
“The new carers' support hub in the Fermanagh and Omagh area is a positive and welcome development, but that must be part of a wider strategy: one that promotes the role of carers, invests in their well-being and makes domiciliary care a valued and sustainable career choice. Above all, carers must be recognised as the vital professionals that they are: the backbone of our health and social care system. By investing in them, we can ensure that older and vulnerable people in Fermanagh and across the Western Trust area receive the dignified care that they deserve and can remain in their own homes, surrounded by their community, for as long as possible.”
“At the heart of the problem is a shortage of domiciliary carers. The Western Trust and independent providers are struggling to recruit and retain staff, and those who remain are working under huge pressure, travelling long distances, covering extra calls and often working beyond their contracted hours out of sheer compassion for their clients. Those carers are doing incredible work under immense strain. They deserve far better. <BR /> <BR />If we are serious about tackling the crisis, we must properly value and support our care workforce. That means fair pay and conditions, paying for travel time and mileage, and offering secure contracts rather than zero-hours ones. It also means creating clear career pathways, providing opportunities for training and progression, and investing in carers' well-being.”
“I take this opportunity to highlight the serious and growing pressures on domiciliary care services in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area, particularly in Fermanagh. Every week, families contact my office about the difficulties in securing home care packages. Demand for domiciliary care is increasing as our population ages and people live longer with complex health needs, yet the Western Trust is facing a severe shortage of carers, which is having a direct impact on those who are most in need of support in their own homes. <BR /> <BR />We now have long waiting lists for care packages, and many hospital discharges are being delayed simply because care is not available in the community. Older people are waiting weeks — sometimes months — for the support that they need to live safely and with dignity in their own homes.”
“Thanks, Minister. Obviously, it is clear that there is an urgent need to reform the liquor licensing system. How will you ensure that any reforms balance the needs of the hospitality sector with the protection of public health and community well-being?”
“Minister, you have touched on this, but are you in a position to provide additional funding or mentoring for small, rural start-ups?”
“We are proud of it, and we deserve a service that reflects that pride: one that is safe, sustainable and local.”
“That is welcome news, but the SWAH's type 1 emergency department is the only one that will not be getting any of those new consultants. Statistically, the SWAH treats one third of all emergency department patients in the Western Trust area. If there are to be three new emergency department consultant posts for the Western Trust, one of them obviously should be allocated to the SWAH. <BR /> <BR />The decision is deeply unfair to the SWAH staff, who continue to deliver an outstanding service under increasing pressure and sends entirely the wrong message about the future of our hospital. As the Western Trust's eagerly awaited vision plan is developed, the SWAH must be fully utilised as a cross-border acute hospital, as was originally intended. People in Fermanagh and in west Tyrone have fought hard for our hospital.”
“In the interest of transparency, the Western Trust should publish the independent analysis that, it says, shows improved outcomes since surgery was removed from the SWAH, as well as the data on efforts to recruit permanent consultant surgeons. The public have a right to see that evidence. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the confirmation that the SWAH will remain an acute hospital, with a type 1 — 24/7 — emergency department, maternity services, an ICU and full resuscitation facilities. That commitment is essential and must be backed up with real delivery. Yesterday, I was made aware of a response to an FOI request from the local lobby group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), which revealed that 26 new emergency medicine consultants are taking up post in hospitals across the North.”
“I welcome the Western Trust's decision to end consultation on the permanent removal of emergency general surgery from the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). The consultation was flawed from the start. It lacked real engagement and public confidence, and ending it was the right call. However, the uncertainty for our community continues. It is now nearly three years since emergency general surgery was temporarily withdrawn from the SWAH. There have been three years of anxiety for patients, families and staff, and there is still no clear plan for the future. The Western Trust's so-called vision plan contains no timeline, no detail and no urgency. The people of Fermanagh and of west Tyrone deserve answers, and they deserve them now.”
“Minister, will you join me in welcoming the investment in Casement Park?”
“The people of the west deserve the same commitment and investment as any other part of the North. Our health system must not leave rural communities behind. The Western Trust has a duty to listen to local people's voices and show leadership by producing a plan that gives confidence in the long-term future of the SWAH.”
“That vision must set out how the SWAH can be developed to meet the needs of our population in the years ahead, including investing in cross-border services.”
“We need the Western Health and Social Care Trust to publish a clear, ambitious and deliverable vision plan for SWAH, a plan that reassures staff, patients and the wider community that the hospital has a sustainable future at the heart of our health service.”
“I speak today about the future of emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen and the paused consultation on the permanent removal of the service. SWAH is a lifeline for people in Fermanagh and west Tyrone. Its location was chosen to ensure that rural communities in the west could access high-quality healthcare without having to travel unreasonable distances. The removal of emergency general surgery has created real fear and uncertainty. People are, rightly, concerned about patient safety, travel times and whether our hospital is being slowly stripped back. <BR /> <BR />The current consultation cannot be seen as the end of the story.”
“Minister, will you provide specific examples of projects that have been approved or funded in Fermanagh recently?”
“Despite that, the nurses, doctors and support staff there demonstrate professionalism, dedication and compassion every day. <BR /> <BR />The future of services at the SWAH is a litmus test, a strategic investment in the health, social and economic infrastructure of the west. It has the potential to contribute so much more than it currently does to our health service, North and South, across all disciplines. If we build the SWAH's surgical and medical capacity, it will solidify its position for the future. Our communities deserve safe, local and high-quality care. The SWAH must remain a hospital that not only survives but thrives, and it must be equipped to provide the services that our families and patients so urgently need and deserve.”
“Although the 2019 consultation on reshaping stroke care threatened it, the staff at the stroke unit are still punching above their weight. The unit received A and B results from a sentinel stroke national audit programme — SSNAP — audit, and, in 2023, it was deemed the best stroke unit in the North. <BR /> <BR />We all know the pressures facing the health service, and one of those serious pressure points is A&E. The A&E department at the SWAH is a type-1, consultant-led unit that provides 24/7 urgent care in our area. It is important that everyone knows that, although emergency general surgery has been temporarily removed from the hospital, the A&E is still fully functional. Yes, it is under pressure, and you should not attend unless it is a medical emergency.”
“I can say, with my hand on my heart, that I received the best care and attention during my entire journey, and I will be eternally grateful to every single staff member who I encountered. Bringing a child into the world should be one of the most joyous occasions in the life of a family, but it is also one of the most vulnerable. For that reason, I sought assurances from the trust on several occasions that there are no threats to maternity services at the SWAH. On each of those occasions, the trust has confirmed that it remains entirely committed to having a full maternity provision at the hospital. <BR /> <BR />Equally, stroke care is an area in which minutes can mean the difference between life and death or recovery and lifelong disability. Thankfully, the stroke unit at the SWAH is renowned as top class.”
“There has been a failure to engage properly with the people of Fermanagh and Tyrone, which ignores the urgent needs of those who rely on the SWAH in emergencies, and no credible plan for service restoration. Support for that view is growing, with groups like the GAA, businesses and hoteliers declaring the process as deeply flawed and lacking legitimacy. We will continue to hold the trust and the Department of Health accountable for the process. <BR /> <BR />Now, rather than talking about what the Western Trust is trying to take away, let us celebrate and try to build on what we already have. As most of you know, I gave birth to a baby girl in March last year, and I was so proud to have her in the SWAH.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will touch on a number of the vital services that are provided in our hospital. First, emergency general surgery is not an optional service; it is a vital, life-saving provision. A viable, resilient health network demands that EGS returns to the SWAH. As others have said, since December 2022, emergency general surgery at the SWAH has been suspended. The suspension was initially described as temporary, yet the Western Trust advanced a public consultation that risks making it permanent. That was not a consultation in any meaningful sense and was fundamentally flawed — so much so that the Health Minister stepped in to advise the trust to pause it. Since then, there has been radio silence from the Western Trust.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the future of services at South West Acute Hospital. I, too, thank my colleague Deborah Erskine for securing today's Adjournment debate. I wish her and her husband, Robert, all the best with their imminent new arrival. I also extend my thanks to the Minister and the members of SOAS for joining us for this important discussion this evening. <BR /> <BR />For the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the SWAH is not just a hospital; it is a lifeline. The SWAH provides essential services to families and patients who would otherwise face long and difficult journeys to receive the care that others in the region take for granted. That is why the future of services at the SWAH must be safeguarded, strengthened and invested in.”
“Minister, what will be in a full fiscal framework?”
“<BR /> <BR />Many in the Belleek area, including my parents, remember Tommy from his teaching days in Brollagh, but he had retired by the time that I joined the school. If people did not know Tommy through education or politics, they recognised him from his sporting achievements on the GAA field. <BR /> <BR />For those of us in public life today, there is a lesson in Tommy's example. We will all be remembered, not for the arguments that we won or lost but for the way that we carried ourselves and the respect that we showed to others. In that sense, Tommy leaves behind a legacy that we would all do well to follow. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Eileen, his children, Thomas, Donogh and Clora and the wider Gallagher family. I will miss seeing Tommy at events around Belleek.”
“I join the SDLP in paying tribute to Tommy Gallagher — someone who gave so much of his life to serving the public. Tommy was, first and foremost, a Fermanagh man. He knew the struggles and the strengths of rural life because he lived them, and he carried that understanding into his work as a councillor and an MLA. We may have come from different political traditions but that never stopped Tommy from being respectful every time we met. He always asked how I was finding the job, the travel and the constituency work. He knew the ups and downs of MLA life, and he believed in representing our community as best he could. That is something that deserves recognition regardless of politics.”
“I thank the First Minister for that comprehensive answer. In the light of the tragic events at the weekend, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Sarah Montgomery. Such tragedies speak to the importance of a connected and joined-up strategy. Will the Minister give an update on the type of projects that are supported through the regional change fund?”
“Thank you for that answer, Minister. As you know, the majority of my constituency is rural. Therefore, given the vital importance of a reliable phone signal for safety, connectivity and daily life in rural areas, do you agree that mobile phone providers have a moral obligation to ensure that no rural communities are left without adequate mobile coverage?”
“Its analysis of our public finances has supported the work of our recent Finance Ministers in their negotiations to improve our financial framework with the British Treasury. I therefore welcome progress on establishing the Fiscal Council as a statutory body and look forward to the continued contribution that it will make in analysing our public finances and other topics over the coming years.”
“Since the Fiscal Council's establishment in 2021, it has had a significant role in improving the transparency and understanding of our public finances. By putting the Fiscal Council on a statutory footing, the Bill will bring it into line with best practice in other jurisdictions, safeguard its independence and protect its scrutiny role. The Bill reiterates the Fiscal Council's independence and clearly sets out its role as one of providing analysis separately and distinguishably from the role of Executive Ministers and Departments, which are responsible for shaping and making policy decisions. <BR /> <BR />The Fiscal Council has had a positive impact since its formation four years ago, having published over 20 reports on topics ranging from budget assessments to the sustainability of our public finances and the health system.”