Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Alongside the Ceann Comhairle, the Taoiseach and many previous speakers in the Chamber, I also wish to extend my sympathies to the family and friends of the late Detective Garda Colm Horkan, a proud Mayo man from Charlestown, in my constituency. I knew Colm. I played against him on many occasions. He was one of those people who got along with everyone and was so well respected. He was a leader in so many ways within his community - on the pitch with Charlestown Sarsfields GAA and also in his chosen career with An Garda Síochána. It is testament to his resounding character that the communities of Charlestown, Castlerea, the GAA family and An Garda Síochána rallied around his family in the ultimate show of strength and unity over the past few days. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

I appreciate the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Harris, in the Chamber earlier this month when speaking about Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar. I note that a new energy centre and other energy efficiency works for the hospital have since gone to tender. Mayo University Hospital is an important hospital for the people of Mayo, serving the entire county from Belmullet on the Atlantic coast to Ballinrobe or Ballyhaunis on the other side of our county. Approximately 40,000 patients present annually to the emergency department within the Saolta Group at Castlebar. Regrettably, the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital is over capacity, having been built originally to cater for 25,000 patients per annum. The Minister visited the emergency department in 2016 and is familiar first-hand with the situation and the requirement for additional physical space at this hospital. Despite the hard work of the staff and management at overcoming this problem, action is required now. This has been going on for far too long and is a serious issue.

We have seen substantial investment in healthcare around Mayo recently, with new expansions to the Sacred Heart Home in Castlebar as well as new primary care centres in Castlebar, Ballina, Westport, Ballinrobe and Claremorris. While plans are progressing for a modular extension to the hospital, until a brick and mortar solution can be developed the challenges resulting from Covid-19 have only increased the urgency of this matter. This very much relates to increasing physical space in order to increase bed capacity. I would appreciate, therefore, if the Minister would provide an update on the expansion plans for the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital.

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