The Department of Health has confirmed it has sanctioned the purchase of 6.85 acres of land adjacent to the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, by the North Eastern Health Board.
The sale price has been agreed at € 2.6 million and a formal announcement was made late Friday by the Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, who is a TD for Louth.
"This site was bought with the mid- to long-term view in mind. It would have been stupid not to as it is good value and the hospital would otherwise be landlocked," he said.
He also said it was a statement and a vote of confidence in the future of the hospital which lost its maternity unit nearly three years ago.
The chairman of the health board, Cllr Declan Breathnach, who played a key role in identifying and securing the land said: "Its purchase is an act of faith by the health board and the Department. It is a commitment to expand the services currently at the hospital and as such this is a campus earmarked for huge development in the future."
However, Cllr Breathnach, a member of Fianna Fáil, also said he now wants the Minister for Health "to follow through and give the board half a million euro which would pay for architects to assess the three hospital sites in Dundalk, Drogheda and Navan and assess what services can be located at them".
Meanwhile Cavan/Monaghan TD Mr Paudge Connolly, who was elected on a hospital ticket, is meeting with the recently elected MLA Mr Kieran Deeney from Omagh this morning in Monaghan. Mr Deeney topped the poll in Omagh having stood on a similar issue. He says services at the Omagh hospital are also in danger.
The two politicians will tour Monaghan General Hospital and according to Mr Connolly they will draw up a cross-Border strategy to try and secure full A&E units in both hospitals.
Candidates who will campaign for the retention and expansion of Monaghan hospital are expected to be announced later this week for next year's local elections.