Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Health given an Taoiseach’s acknowledgement in Dáil Éireann that the emergency department at University Hospital Galway is unfit for purpose, the plans in place for replacing the Department, including cost, expected completion time; when it will be funded; why it was not included in the Government’s capital spending plan; if it will now be added as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1992/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Capital Plan 2016 includes funding for a full option appraisal and Cost Benefit Analysis to inform planning and funding requirements for a new ED at GUH. A cost benefit analysis in relation to a new ED in GUH is currently underway and it is anticipated that this will be completed by March 2016. If favourable, this will go to design phase in 2016.

Pending the development of a new ED in GUH, in order to alleviate pressures and to ensure that patient experience in the existing GUH ED is improved, there are two major developments currently underway in Galway. The HSE made over €2m available in 2015 to develop an additional 30 beds in GUH in order to reduce overcrowding. Structural work is progressing well to create a new Emergency Ward within the existing hospital footprint, which will allow for these 30 extra patient spaces. The first phase of this development became operational on 4 January, 2016 and the second phase is now underway.

Construction work is also ongoing on the new 75 bed ward block which will provide single room in-patient accommodation.

The additional 30 beds and the construction of the new 75 bed ward block demonstrates this Government's commitment to providing more beds and upgrading facilities.