Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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283. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the new elective hospital in Cork; and when this will be fully operational. [62695/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 7 December, the Government approved the next stage of the Enhanced Provision of Elective Care Programme and progression of the development of new Elective Hospitals in Cork and Galway. The preferred site in Cork, recommended to be brought forward into the planning phase, is at St Stephen's Hospital, Sarsfield Court.

It is difficult to be definitive about timelines due to the many complexities to delivery, including the challenges facing the construction sector (due to Brexit, the global pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, global supply chain difficulties and shortages of construction raw materials). Notwithstanding, the Department of Health and HSE will work to ensure the expedient development and delivery of the new Elective Hospital in Cork and we hope that it will be open from 2027 and fully operational by 2028.