Mr. Bernard Gloster:

In relation to the elective hospital, my mandate to the region is to get to planning as quickly as possible, but properly. Obviously, there are challenges beyond the HSE’s intentions on the Glanmire site, and there is also the issue of road access. I would imagine that earlier in 2026, rather than later, would be on the planning application. The direction I have from the Minister is very clear. I bring the projects to shovel-ready, whether they are elective hospitals, surgical hubs or anything else. I bring them to shovel-ready and as soon as I bring them to shovel-ready, they are approved to go. That is the intention we are taking.

In relation to the beds in Blarney, I approved the temporary operation of those last Christmas to support unscheduled care demands in Cork, particularly at CUH and the Mercy Hospital. The regional executive officer there, to be fair to him, was very committed to pushing those to maximum benefit. There was a difficulty in getting them up and utilising them, and a difficulty in getting the flow out of CUH to utilise them. They made the decision, with the management in Cork, that they were more beneficial to also be opened up for patient flow out of the Mercy Hospital. That is what is happening. I am waiting to see what the impact of sustaining those 25 beds, or adding to them, will be like. Again, the Minister has been very clear, and she has given me the latitude to see if we can add to those.