Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's analysis of the situation is correct. The current emergency department was designed to meet a capacity flow of approximately 25,000 patients per annum but the figure for attendances last year reached over 37,000, according to the figures available. As is the case in much of our health service, the infrastructure was built for a much smaller population. That is why I unapologetically believe that we must embark on a construction and capacity building programme in the acute hospital setting. It frustrates me when I hear people in the national media say it can all be done in primary care. Much more could be done in primary care and we need to have more done in that area and to shift more services to the community, but despite all that we will still need more physical capacity and Mayo University Hospital is an example.

There is a long-term proposal to provide a new emergency department in the hospital and we can look at how to progress that, but we need an interim solution and to see how we can extend the existing emergency department. The only interim solution I see is modular build. The HSE estates office is working with Mayo University Hospital to review and discuss the proposal. There is some follow-up work required on the scope of the design and the hospital management is familiar with that. However, I accept the point that we need to see if we can do something quite quickly on it. I will examine it in that context and I will keep in touch with the Deputy.

See this speech in context