Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given under the National Development Plan to the inclusion of Galway University Hospital as a designated Model 4 Hospital incorporating a regional cancer network to serve the north west region, in line with the objectives of balanced regional development and Sláintecare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27746/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Galway University Hospitals (GUH) comprises Merlin Park University Hospital and University Hospital Galway (UHG). UHG is the Model 4 hospital for the HSE West and Northwest region and is one of eight national designated cancer centres. Some localised cancer services operate out of smaller hospitals in the HSE West Northwest region and UHG also supports a satellite centre for breast cancer at Letterkenny.

In late 2023, Saolta convened a Capital Programme Oversight Board to develop a clinically led, holistic master planning approach for UHG. This master planning process has been informed by population health needs and clinical demand for the region and it is proposing a number of projects of significant scale on campus. When complete, UHG will provide state of the art Model 4 hospital facilities for the people of Galway and the HSE West and Northwest Region.

In order provide a clear plan for the sequencing and phased delivery of the much-needed new capacity and facilities, a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the campus has been completed. This DCP includes a new cancer centre among other facilities.

At the end of May 2025, my Department received a copy of the DCP and programme Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposals at UHG. These documents are currently being reviewed against the requirements of D/PENDR’s Infrastructure Guidelines and will be returned to the HSE with feedback, to be subsumed into the Preliminary Business Case (PBCs) for the first phases of the works which is under development. To deliver much needed new facilities at UHG a significant volume of enabling works will be required. The HSE has advised that initial enabling works on UHG campus to support this programme of works have begun.

The proposals for UHG, as well as the other significant ambitions we have for much-needed capital investment in our health system, form part of our ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform following Minister Chamber’s announcement of a review of the National Development Plan.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the outright ban of all single-use e-cigarette devices in this jurisdiction. [30313/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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My current legislative priority, approved by Government on 10 September, is the further regulation of nicotine inhaling products. These proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General. The General Scheme for a Bill contains a range of proposals to reduce youth use of nicotine inhaling products including a ban on disposable vapes.

Once drafting is completed, the draft measure will require notification at EU level under the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU) as it entails the banning of a product.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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318. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the outright ban of flavoured and coloured e-cigarettes in this jurisdiction. [30314/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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My current legislative priority on tobacco and related products, as approved by Government on 10 September, is the further regulation of nicotine inhaling products. These proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General.

The General Scheme for a Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill contains a range of proposals to reduce youth use of nicotine inhaling products including:

- restrictions on the colours and imagery used on nicotine inhaling products and their packaging

- a ban on devices resembling toys or games

- restrictions on flavours, and

- a ban on disposable vapes.

When drafting is finalised the proposed measures will require notification and assessment at EU level under the both the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535) and the Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU) as they include the banning of a category of product.