Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I note an additional 41 nurses have been appointed to University Hospital Galway since October 2014. An additional 146 staff were recruited overall to the hospital, including 29 non-consultant hospital doctors, six consultants and 19 allied health professionals. Because of overcrowding and the concerns about the emergency department in the hospital which hit the headlines during Leaders’ Questions yesterday, I welcome the Minister’s statement on proceeding to design stage in 2016 for a new emergency department at the hospital. Will he provide more clarity in this regard? As the Taoiseach said yesterday, the facilities are not fit for purpose. Having visited the emergency department recently, I know that the Minister agrees with the Taoiseach’s statement yesterday.

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