Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Cathaoirleach to allow me time to respond on this important issue of Naas General Hospital. It is interesting that the Deputy has asked the question today. Earlier this week I had discussions with several Deputies who raised concerns in respect of Naas. In essence, they are saying there is a concern locally that there is some secret plan to downgrade the hospital. That is the question that was put to me. I wish to reassure the Deputy and the committee that the absolute intention of the Government, implemented by the Department and the HSE, is to invest in Naas hospital and to grow it and services there. I wish to be clear in that regard. I will provide three examples of that happening. When Covid arrived in 2020, there were 759 people working in Naas General Hospital. Today, there are 945. Since Covid arrived, in the lifetime of this Dáil, there are an extra 186 people working there. That is a significant increase in the workforce. In terms of capital infrastructure, the 12-bed single-room occupancy modular unit is now complete. It is an important additional piece of capacity. Equipping and commissioning is now under way for that unit. As regards the emergency department, reconfiguration and refurbishment of the existing space to provide an 11-bed MAU is under way, in addition to emergency department admission and discharge lounges being created. That is at appraisal stage. It has to go through the process. That will give the Deputy a sense of the progress being made. The workforce has grown significantly, new beds are being commissioned and a significant investment in medical assessment and emergency care is under appraisal.