Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the House to discuss the issues at the emergency department at University Hospital Galway, UHG. The INMO figures for this morning show that there are 24 patients on trolleys in the hospital. This day last week, there were 30 patients on trolleys. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that as I have stated previously even one patient on a trolley in an emergency department for a significant period is one too many. I acknowledge and commend the front-line staff who are working in these difficult circumstances in overcrowded emergency departments, particularly in UHG

Enabling works on construction of a temporary extension to the emergency department at the hospital have commenced and are due to be completed in early 2022. This will provide additional accommodation, including segregated waiting and treatment areas, isolation rooms, additional resuscitation spaces and support accommodation to take account of new requirements to treat Covid-19 patients. I ask the Minister of State to clarify if a timeline has been set in respect of the lodgment of a planning application for the new emergency department and maternity and paediatric facilities at UHG. Has Saolta given a timeline for this project? Why are we still waiting? Is the project being stalled purposely or is genuine progress being made? Is the design 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 99% complete? Is Saolta ready to sign-off on this project? Is it awaiting national estates to give it the go ahead? Is it waiting for Department of Public Expenditure and Reform approval?

I have been through the history of this project previously. As far back as 2015, the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said that the emergency department at UHG was not fit for purpose. We have had ministerial visits to Galway, where we have been told that planning permission would be lodged prior to Christmas 2018. The specifications may have changed to a degree since then in the fit-out of the building, but I do not see the rationale for the planning permission not having been lodged. Where is the design at? Is it nearly complete and ready to go? What is the stumbling block? If I raise this issue with the Minister of State again in September, will progress have been made? Will the planning permission be lodged before the end of this year? Is there any certainty or a definitive timeline on this hugely important project for an emergency department and maternity and paediatric facilities for UHG?

We have heard all the talk of major plans elsewhere in Galway in Merlin Park yet a project that has stood up to the options appraisal carried out by Saolta with the consent of the Department has indicated that the existing site at UHG is the preferred site for an emergency department. This has been in every national plan for God knows how many years, yet no planning permission has yet been lodged. I have said previously, and I reiterate today, nothing can be built without valid planning permission and valid planning permission cannot be obtained without first lodging an application. I hope the Minister of State can shed some light on where this project is at.