Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a very welcome announcement for the region and it has been received very well locally. I agree it is a strong statement of intent and I want to acknowledge the commitment to increase capacity at Ennis Hospital. As we know, the population increase is in line with national statistics of 8%. That is a reality that needs to be planned for and delivered on. I know that a theatre upgrade was also approved and is due to be delivered in quarter 1 of 2026 and that planning permission is already in place. Will either project have an impact on the other? Will they be delivered side by side? Does one of them have to be prioritised over the other?

Procurement delays have been an issue in Limerick in particular and I do not want to see that happening in Ennis Hospital. It is often the case that until planning permission is granted the process is paused, which just seems like an unnecessary hold-up. October of last year saw all surgeries being cancelled in Ennis Hospital, St. John’s Hospital, Limerick, and Nenagh Hospital due to overcrowding in UHL. How can we guarantee that this unit will not suffer the same fate?

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