Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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1359. To ask the Minister for Health given the urgent need to fast track the re-build and restoration of Wexford General Hospital, and ensure that vital services are restored there as soon as possible, if he will use the powers available to him under Section 181(2)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to remove the necessity to go through a planning process in the reconstruction of the damaged building and the provision of temporary or modular facilities, and to commence the building of the planned 96-bed unit at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13142/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A Major Emergency was declared at Wexford General Hospital 1st March 2023 following a serious fire event. No injuries or accidents to patients or staff have been reported. HSE Estates and local services are working to access the extent of the damage and safely bring back services as soon as possible. Maternity services at the Hospital resumed on Friday 3rd March. Hospital Wards are being brought back into use on a phased basis. The decision to re-open wards is made by local management taking into account operational and service realities.

The use of modular facilities at Wexford General Hospital is currently under consideration.

I can confirm the 96-bed ward block at Wexford General Hospital project is included in the Capital Programme for 2023, and funding has been allocated in 2023 to progress the project.

Given recent events at Wexford General Hospital, both my Department and the HSE are focused on repairing fire damage and restoring the hospital to full functionality. We will be exploring opportunities to expedite the 96 bed ward project in the context of the overall works to restore capacity at Wexford General Hospital as soon as is possible. Any decision relating to expediting works will take into account operational and service realities at Wexford General Hospital.

My officials and I are exploring all available opportunities to ensure that services at Wexford General Hospital are safely restored as soon as possible. I can confirm that I have engaged with the Attorney General to determine whether any of the exemptions that were effectively applied during the pandemic and Brexit could be utilised to deliver health infrastructure more quickly and this consideration is currently underway.