Taoiseach denies plan to downgrade Portlaoise Hospital

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied any plan to downgrade Portlaoise Hospital.

His denial follows a letter read into the Dáil record by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

The July 26 document from the HSE came before the Public Accounts Committee.

But Enda Kenny told the Dáil it is simply not being considered by Government.

"There is no capacity in the system to reduce a hospital like this to level two, not is there any intention of so doing," he said.

"There is absolutely no intention of reducing Portlaoise from level three to level two."