Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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101. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans for a new model 4 hospital in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7237/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for her question, as the Deputy will be aware I fully support developments at Galway University Hospital, which comprises both University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital.

One such project is the Emergency Department and Women & Children’s block which will address the issues with current accommodation at the hospital, a huge development with 7 floors which will provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for patients and staff. Enabling works are expected to commence during 2023.

A proposal for a new Cancer Care Centre at GUH has now been submitted to the HSE, and funding for progressing the evaluation is allocated in this year’s Capital Plan. This facility will provide up-to-date facilities for cancer services at GUH, which is the designated cancer centre for the Saolta region.

A new elective hospital at the Merlin Park site was approved by Government in December last year which will treat over 175,000 patients annually. A new six-floor medical laboratory development at UHG is at appraisal stage, and this will provide integrated access to lab facilities across hospital and community services. My own view is that additional bed capacity is also needed at GUH, and I understand that a proposal is being drafted by the hospital currently for a 72 bed development.