To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the repercussions for staff of Dalriada Hospital following its temporary closure.

I am advised that there are just under 120 employees associated with the Dalriada Hospital site, and it is anticipated that 61 employees will be affected by the service change.

Permanent staff will be redeployed to support acute, community and emergency services. No staff will lose their jobs and the hours they work will remain as per their contract.

There are a number of posts in the Causeway locality (ie Ballymoney, Coleraine and Ballycastle) and Human Resources staff and service managers, in partnership with Trade Unions, are currently working with staff to match their skills to posts available and to ensure that, as far as possible, individual circumstances are taken into account.