David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1488. To ask the Minister for Health the investments and capital projects which must be made to upgrade the Mater Hospital to a major trauma centre; his plans for same over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33541/21]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1756. To ask the Minister for Health the outstanding measures in the National Trauma Strategy; the estimated additional funding this requires for full implementation; the basis on which this funding must be made available that is, one-off or recurring; the revenue and capital split of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35464/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1488 and 1756 together.

The National Trauma Strategy recommended the introduction of an inclusive trauma system delivered by two regional networks, to be implemented in a multiannual programme comprising three phases.

Phase one focusses on the fundamentals of the trauma system and the development of the Central Trauma Network, whereby the most severely injured patients will access the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital either directly or via secondary transfer. The total revenue costs for this first phase are estimated to be €8.2m, and the cost of capital developments for this first phase is estimated at €6.8m.

Phase two will see the continued establishment of services at the Mater. When fully established as a Major Trauma Centre, the Mater will be equipped and organised to manage all severely injured patients, including those with time-critical injuries. Other elements of the second phase will include the development of major trauma services at Cork University Hospital (the Major Trauma Centre for the South Trauma Network) and at the Trauma Unit with Specialist Services (TUSS) at University Hospital Galway, as well as the establishment of trauma services at the first of several Trauma Units nationwide.

Phase three will see the maturation of the trauma system towards its final state with the continued development of all services established in phases one and two.

€6m in development funding has been made available in Budget 2021 to support the implementation of the National Trauma Strategy, and funding for the continued implementation of the Strategy will be sought through the annual estimates, service planning and capital planning processes.