Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1301 of 6 September 2019, the status of the options appraisal for the model 4 hospital at Merlin Park, Galway; if the options appraisal was submitted to the HSE and his Department by the end of September 2019; when the options appraisal will be published; the cost to date of the options appraisal process; the anticipated overall cost of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41156/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, in May 2017, I gave approval to the HSE to conduct an options appraisal for future acute hospital needs in Galway. Following the appropriate procurement process, external consultants were appointed to the project in July 2018.

As part of this project, Saolta University Healthcare Group undertook a planning project to assess the population health needs for the Hospital’s catchment area in order to inform existing and future service needs to ensure the delivery of safe high quality acute, elective and cancer care for patients across the West/Northwest.

Earlier this year, the HSE extended the scope of the appraisal to incorporate interim priority infrastructural requirements. While this prolonged the timeline for delivery of the report, it allowed for a review of the critical areas requiring infrastructure development, as well as a review of the requirements for the elective hospital.

The HSE has advised that the draft report on the options appraisal is undergoing final review at present, including a submission of the draft report to the Saolta Board for consideration. An initial briefing on the draft plan was provided by the HSE to my Department at the end of September.  The costs of the options appraisal process will be available once it is concluded.

I look forward to the formal submission of this report which will allow for a detailed examination of the proposal to ensure it aligns with the Sláintecare vision and provides direction for the provision of health services in the West and Northwest into the future.