Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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1315. To ask the Minister for Health the expected transport upgrades associated with the development of a new elective hospital at St. Stephen's Hospital, Cork; if improvements, including the installation of public lighting, addition of footpaths, cycle paths and bus stops at the L2973, will be part of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12916/23]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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1316. To ask the Minister for Health the expected year of opening of a new elective hospital at St. Stephen's Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12917/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1315 and 1316 together.

On 7 December 2022, 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 (with Dublin to follow in due course). The new Elective Hospitals will provide significant additional capacity, enabling the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care. This will change the way in which day cases, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged across the country, ensuring greater capacity in the future and helping to address waiting times.

I have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of these health infrastructure projects in Cork and Galway, to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.