Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The question I had posed earlier has not been responded to. In relation to emergency departments, it is indicated in a reply I received to a question I posed that where capital build or refurbishment is required and where it has been already identified, detailed plans have been agreed to expedite the build component. Will Mr. O'Brien indicate where that might apply? He is currently engaged in a series of visits to emergency departments across the country. I know from personal experience, having visited a number of hospital sites in my role as a health spokesperson in recent years, that many of the emergency departments are not designed to cater efficiently with the current throughput of patients presenting. From what I have observed, there are serious design deficiencies. Does the capital build or refurbishment include extensions or restructuring? Would it include, for instance, the provision of paediatric emergency department facilities, separate from the main facility for adults? Could we be given a sense of the thinking on that? How quickly can we expedite the build component of the proposals?

Will it have any impact during the impending winter period or has this a longer impact timeframe?