Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy very much for that. There has been and will continue to be ongoing investment in Ennis Hospital. We will need to see exactly what the final opening hours for the MAU will be. Local clinicians will gauge patient demand. If we are to have staff there at night, patients need to be coming in to warrant them being there. Otherwise, we would employ them during the day to provide patient services. At this point, the important thing is there is very significant investment in expanding the team at Ennis. To have an extra 20 people there is a very significant advance. We will keep a close eye on that.

The new outpatient department at Ennis Hospital has been equipped with X-ray rooms and other diagnostics. The redevelopment of Ennis Hospital is at phase 1b. That will make a big difference. There are also redevelopment works on the two replacement theatre-supporting facilities, including theatre suites and other redevelopment works at the hospital.

The Deputy asked a broader question regarding UPMC that I will come back to him on.

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