Hundreds of people have had to pay for private treatment in the absence of the local service.
The diabetes service at Portlaoise Regional Hosptial has received a major boost today.
The Health Minister has approved the appointment of two new senior dieticians to operate the service.
Hundreds of people have had to travel to Dublin and elsewhere and pay for private treatment in the absence of the service locally.
Today's announcement follows on from a protest held by diabetic patients outside the hospital last November.
Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley is now calling for the roles to be filled as quickly as possible:
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