Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Minister for Health can he confirm if one of the two promised national injury units recommended in the 2023 National Injury Review, will be located in County Carlow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45983/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to thank you for your question concerning the announcement of an Injury Unit (IU) in Carlow.

The development of IU’s is a strategic initiative for this Government to assist with alleviating pressures in Emergency Departments.

A National Injury Unit review was undertaken by a HSE Working Group in 2023. The recommendations from this review were:

• to expand all existing acute hospital governed IUs to operate from 8am to 8pm, and,
• to expand geographical coverage and prioritise locations for the provision of IUs.

An IU expansion programme is due to commence in 2025. It is estimated that additional IUs could be delivered in 2025. The criteria for the prioritisation of new IUs includes population, existing IU locations, and gaps in geographical coverage for the entire population.

The proposal is currently under review by my Department and subject to approval.

A unit in St Dympna’s has been identified as a potential location for an IU serving Carlow.