Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 31 March 2022, the status of the Strategic Assessment Report by the HSE regarding the new emergency department in University Hospital Galway; if he has received the report to date; when he expects the updated preliminary business case to be brought forward for review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26796/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 43 together.

The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated Public Spending Code (PSC).

The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.

These are defined processes in which all Departments and agencies are subject to and must follow to ensure that Government, as the approving authority for all major projects, can be satisfied that the project is the best means to achieve a policy goal and that we achieve maximum value for money for the taxpayer.

Specifically in relation to the Galway University Hospital Emergency Department (ED), I am pleased to say that the interim emergency department, including additional resuscitation spaces, support accommodation and improved infection prevention and control measures, is currently under construction using a rapid build solution. The critical services are expected to be completed by end of June 2022.

In relation to the larger scale proposals for the ED, originally the proposal was for a new multi-story ED block, but now, driven by local requirements and the need to build more efficiently on a constricted site, we will shortly be receiving proposals costed in the hundreds of millions.

I understand that the drafting by the HSE of the Strategic Assessment Report, to ensure full compliance with PSC requirements for the more substantial proposals, is well advanced. It is now expected to be submitted to my Department by early Q3 2022.

If granted approval-in principle, the preliminary business case can then be updated by the HSE and be brought forward for review to progress those proposals.

I have referred the questions relating to the average number of persons who have been left sitting overnight in chairs since the beginning of 2021, in the present facility while awaiting a bed in the hospital to the HSE for direct reply.