Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cappagh hospital is in my constituency but as the Minister rightly says, it is a national hospital. My colleagues, Deputies Cahill and Brendan Smith, have been plaguing both the Minister and the Ministers of State, Deputies Butler and Rabbitte. We have had extensive visits from Ministers. The Taoiseach himself has been out, as has the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and many others. It is a fantastic hospital. There is great energy there. What the hospital did during Covid was really impressive, yet it is operating in many ways within some of the old Nightingale wards that it has in place, and within more limited means.

As the Minister says, the proposal outlined is for a 76-bed single occupancy ward block, three theatres and the refurbishment of the radiology services. A strategic assessment report was due to be undertaken on the proposal. Could the Minister write to me as I would be interested to know whether that has taken place? For clarification, what stages are left in regard to the proposal that require to be progressed before the final decision is made to proceed?

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