Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As he said, he has raised it several times before, which I acknowledge. I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the status of the new emergency department at University Hospital Galway. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the very difficult and unacceptable conditions for patients, families and healthcare staff working in University Hospital Galway.

I am pleased to say that a €13 million capital investment was approved for an interim emergency department, including additional resuscitation spaces, support accommodation and improved infection prevention and control measures. This facility is under construction using a rapid-build solution.These critical services are expected to be completed by the end of June 2022, about eight weeks away. Further reconfiguration works to the existing emergency department will also be completed as part of the project. I expect that these new facilities will be available for patients and staff during August. While improving service delivery capability, the interim emergency department and associated works will also serve as enabling works for the larger project the Senator spoke about, freeing up the site required for a proposed new block.

I am aware that this project has been discussed for the past ten years and I share the frustration of the team in Galway and the patients there. One of the reasons the project is still in the development phase is that there has been a significant increase in the scale and ambition for the solution on the Galway site. Originally the proposal was for a new multistorey emergency department block, but now the proposals, driven by local requirements and the need to better utilise a constricted site, mean the Department of Health will shortly receive proposals costed in the hundreds of millions. The estimated cost is likely to be in the region of €275 million to €300 million, significantly higher than the €65 million to €120 million cost for the original proposal.

As the Senator will be aware, all projects proposed in excess of €100 million must be subject to the full scrutiny of the public spending code process. The public spending code is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale and costs are well understood. This ensures that maximum value for money for the taxpayer, through disciplined project evaluation, preparation and implementation, can be achieved. The HSE is drafting a strategic assessment report to ensure full compliance with public spending code requirements. I expect this to be submitted to the Department later this month. If granted approval in principle, the preliminary business case, which is at an advanced stage of drafting, will be subject to the external assurance process prior to the submission of the final business case to Government for decision.

I am pleased to say that following the €13 million capital investment, the interim emergency department, which will provide critical services, is expected to be completed by end of June 2022. This will increase service delivery capability.