Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chairman. With the agreement of the committee, it might be best if I respond to whatever is appropriate for each person and then ask the director general to continue.

I thank Deputy Kelly for his questions. I know he has been championing better pathways for emergency departments for some time. I think he is right. I will ask the HSE to outline the increase it has already seen in the minor injury units this year compared with last year. More needs to be done. This needs to be looked at as part of the review of this winter, which I expect to start in March, to plan for next winter. Is it about opening them longer, is there a benefit in opening them for longer and if opened for longer, would fewer people go in? The next piece for the pathways is the new general practitioner, GP, contract, which I am sure we will get into later. I know the Chairman has an interest in this. Could GPs do more to prevent people from having to go to the emergency departments in the first place?

On the capital for both University Hospital Galway and Beaumont Hospital, I have announced funding for the design phase for an emergency department for University Hospital Galway. That is an important part of the delivery of a capital project, as the Deputy knows from his own time in Cabinet. I expect that will be done in time for the Galway project to be considered in the context of the capital plan. A new emergency department for Galway is a priority. It is in the programme for Government and the Government will have to reflect such priorities when it reviews the capital plan, which I expect to take place this summer.

Beaumont Hospital is funded for the design phase this year with a view to it being considered and acted upon in the mid-term capital review. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, met the chief executive officer of Beaumont Hospital as recently as last week. We saw ten extra beds open there which helped Beaumont quite a lot over the winter. The Minister of State and I continue to pursue that.

The Deputy is right about Limerick. I want to see this emergency department opened in Limerick as soon as it is completed. I have given a commitment to work with colleagues in the HSE and the Department to ensure that happens. Incredible work was being done by a brilliant staff and manager when I visited Limerick emergency department a number of months ago but in appalling infrastructural conditions. The idea that there is going to be a brand new emergency department sitting empty is not acceptable.