Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Carey's comments on the smaller hospitals or sister hospitals of the University Limerick hospitals group in the mid-west. We have been told to use these facilities, particularly the injury clinics. If I injure myself playing a match, the first place I will think of is UHL in Dooradoyle. We do not know what specific services are provided by the other hospitals, whether St. John's, Ennis or Nenagh. A major communications strategy needs to be put in place to ensure these facilities are used to their capacity to try to take the heat off the emergency department in Dooradoyle. I have asked for such a communication plan before. It is now paramount this is done, given where we are. I welcome that the Government is moving on the 96-bed unit project in conjunction with the hospital group. I understand it is at design stage and I hope it will soon proceed to tendering. I would like an outline of the design timelines for the project.

As for the modular unit, everyone has a right to appeal and to object - I have no problems with that - but with this process we are looking for something so urgently that I echo Deputy Carey's sentiments that the likes of this should go straight to An Bord Pleanála. I mean no disrespect to the council, on which I sat for a number of years, but this is a strategic project that warrants a streamlining and fast-tracking of deadlines. We are talking a number of months. As Deputy Carey said, 880 people were placed on trolleys in UHL in June and use of the hospital's emergency department increased by 17% in the past year, and is ramping up all the time. I would like to hear the Minister of State's comments on this and I will follow up on them afterwards.

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