Mr. Paul Reid:

With the Senator's agreement, I will summarise the key projects. I have been chairing over recent weeks a discussion with the hospital group and with our own estates management and services to look at the timeline and pipeline of infrastructure projects in Galway.

The pressures on that service are very significant. I will give a quick summary of the key projects, some of which were just listed. Regarding the current status of the emergency department and the women and children's block, the assessment review has been submitted to the HSE. We are finalising board papers to submit to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform this week, in addition to a preliminary business case, which we are expecting to be submitted in the coming days. That is a process that has progressed well over the past few weeks to get everybody on the same page as to the right strategic location and how to bring that through. Separately, the temporary emergency department, which involves an investment of about €13 million, is expected to be commissioned within the next two months. The Senator has asked previously about the cardiothoracic ward. That is valued at €4.7 million and is near completion. It is a 12-bed ward and will be operational by the end of June. The oncology development is valued at nearly €63 million and is at an advanced stage. It is hoped to commence the commissioning of the building in the third or fourth quarter of 2022. The orthopaedic theatres in Merlin Park University Hospital are worth about €10.57 million. Construction is complete and the theatres are currently in the process of being commissioned. They will be made operational on a phased basis from June 2022. The outpatient department in Merlin Park is valued at €12.5 million. That project consists of the replacement of accommodation for the outpatient services, which will be displaced to the emergency department and women and children's block. The issuing of the tender for this project is due in the coming weeks. I reassure the Senator that there is a particular focus on bringing all those projects through the key pipeline we have to get them through.