Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. That is indeed welcome news. It is fantastic that we will see the 50-bed ward block open by September of this year, I hope. It will be fantastic for the teams, managers, patients and families who rely on that hospital. As the Minister of State mentioned, access to additional space in the ED is particularly crucial.We are seeing the expansion of the ED. This will involve the provision of additional bays that will allow more space for paediatrics. We are seeing more families coming to live and work in the west. It is wonderful to see so many families expanding. More than 1,300 babies have been born in the maternity unit at Portiuncula hospital. Many people speak about how they were born in Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe. It is important that our paediatrics space is fit for purpose. This is very welcome news.

I welcome that it is in the HSE capital plan for this year. I know that we will be working closely with the teams and that the teams will be working closely with the HSE and the Department of Health in the context of equipping and fitting out the facility. The updated spatial plan is really necessary, with the 25-bed rehabilitation unit, the new clinical programmes and clinical spaces. I thank the teams for organising the meeting that has been arranged for April, which will be absolutely crucial.