Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for debate. Overcrowding at the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Limerick, UHL, continues to be a major problem. In the past two months alone, a staggering 900 patients at the hospital have been placed on trolleys, the highest number recorded in the country. There are many contributory factors to this, including that some surgical theatres and consultants are not available seven days a week, but the major issue is a lack of acute bed capacity in the region. In fairness to management at UHL, it has put forward two projects to boost significantly bed capacity, namely, a 60-bed modular unit and a new 96-bed block proposal.

The 60-bed modular unit was recently granted full planning permission by Limerick City and County Council. It is extremely regrettable, however, that this vital project has been stalled because of a planning objection on the part of a resident of Dooradoyle in Limerick. This project is of critical importance to healthcare provision in the mid-west region, servicing counties Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary, as it will improve patient flow throughout the hospital, patient comfort, patient safety, privacy and patient dignity. It is outrageous that one individual can hold up a project of such importance. I have taken this matter up with the Minister of State with responsibility for planning, Deputy Damien English. It is my view that strategic projects such as this should be lodged directly with An Bord Pleanála. While I have no wish to deprive people of the right to appeal against planning decisions, it makes sense to give An Bord Pleanála the right to deal directly with applications for major public service projects as such an approach would streamline the process and allow people have their views considered without compromising the public interest.

What is the Minister of State's position on this project? With winter almost upon us, what contingency plans are in place to deal with the severe overcrowding at UHL? More can and must be done with the smaller hospitals in the region, including at Ennis and Nenagh and St. John's. Does the Minister of State agree with this? What plans does he have to involve these hospitals more?

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