Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I suspected there would be some questions relating to Galway in the Deputy's contribution. As part of budget 2018 it was announced that funding to improve access to emergency care in 2018 will enable the opening of additional hospital capacity, including new beds, and additional diagnostic services and surgical capacity will be provided to reduce emergency department overcrowding. Additional capacity will be introduced in Galway in this respect. A new 75-bed ward block was completed in 2016 and the new acute mental health department is expected to be operational by the end of 2017. Galway is a pilot site for the national patient flow improvement programme and it is starting to work. There has been significant progress in planning for the new emergency department, with a design team to be appointed in the coming weeks, and there has also been a significant upgrade of the maternity unit, as well as 30 additional beds opened in 2016 as part of a wider winter beds programme. The cystic fibrosis outpatient department was completed a number of years ago and we are also looking at elective orthopaedic contingency implementation work at Merlin Park.

I am not saying we are where we need to be and there are clearly issues with, and pressures on, health provision in Galway, of which the Minister is very aware. However, we have a significant funding programme, both capital and current, and that will ensure we address these issues over time.

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