Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I want to acknowledge all of the work she has been doing within her portfolio in supporting older people and mental health. I accept that she was given a script today but the background to me raising this matter in the Dáil is the lack of a progress report from the HSE up to 6 October. We are now in mid-November and still there is no update on this. It is disappointing that the Department of Health could not have furnished a more up-to-date outline of the situation with regard to these capital projects.

The HSE is aware of the necessity of facility upgrades at Mayo University Hospital, MUH, but yet again it has failed to take the required steps to expedite construction. For me and for Members of this House, holding the HSE to account is really important. The executive's inaction is, at times, unjustifiable. The urgency of this matter is stark when one looks at the alarming number of patients who spend more than 24 hours on trolleys at MUH and that was underscored in 2023 when the latest figures were released. There is a pressing need for a new ward block within MUH and we must vigorously campaign for the realisation of that. A recent HIQA report outlined deficiencies within the facilities and held that the need for a 75-bed ward block at the Mayo site was unquestionable. This is one of the long-term actions that the management within MUH presented as a valid solution, particularly in the context of addressing the shortage of single, en-suite rooms in MUH.

Mayo deserves access to quality healthcare services in a timely and efficient manner. I ask the Minister of State to relay to the Minister for Health the need for immediate action to address this issue.

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