Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position on capital development projects at Mayo University Hospital. The role of capital investment is to support the delivery of quality healthcare services. This includes the provision of the appropriate infrastructure that supports service delivery, such as the facilities at Mayo University Hospital. Mayo University Hospital provides health services and care to the people of Mayo and the west. It is an integral part of the Saolta hospital group, a model 3 hospital with 331 beds, providing quality patient care delivered safely by skilled and valued staff through the best use of available resources. This Government is committed to developing services and infrastructure at Mayo University Hospital.

A number of capital projects at Mayo University Hospital are progressing and are at various stages of development. This includes electrical upgrade works, fire response improvements and a mortuary upgrade. A proposal has been developed to provide a new multi-storey block extension in the courtyard area of the hospital. This block would facilitate an extension at ground level to increase the size of the accident and emergency department and provide space for the medical assessment unit. It would also provide space at second floor level for a new 12-bed ward. It is also proposed to provide space for a further 12 to 15 beds at second floor level in the existing two-storey building.This is a complicated project addressing a number of separate, if related, issues in different parts of the hospital. The project is being reviewed. It is expected to be progressed in 2020 as two separate projects - one addressing additional capacity and the other focusing on the emergency department and the medical assessment unit. This proposal will be subject to further definition in the coming months with a view to being in a position to make progress with the project, subject to funding availability and overall project prioritisation in 2020. It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals, including capital developments at Mayo University Hospital, must progress through detailed appraisal, planning and design, procurement, construction and commissioning stages before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established. This Government is committed to developing services at Mayo University Hospital and will invest more than €2 billion in capital funding in the public health services over the three years between 2019 and 2021.