Written answers

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Department of Health

Departmental Expenditure

Photo of Charles WardCharles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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1001. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to establish a minor injuries clinic in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39661/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In 2023, a National Injury Unit Review was undertaken by a HSE Working Group who examined existing Injury Units and made a series of recommendations to improve services, including:

  • to expand geographical coverage and prioritise locations for the provisions of Injury units;
  • to expand all existing acute hospital governed Injury Units to operate from 8am to 8pm.
The objective of the Injury Unit expansion programme is to provide more equitable access to Injury Units, to avoid longer waiting times in Emergency Departments, and reduce unnecessary Emergency Department attendances for lower acuity patients. Expansion of Injury Units will be underpinned by a safe model of care as recommended by the Emergency Medicine Programme. The criteria for this prioritisation include population, existing Injury Unit locations, and gaps in geographical coverage.

The Programme for Government commitments on Urgent and Emergency Care include expansion of Injury Units, and this is being progressed across priority sites. The HSE undertook a study to inform regional and national decisions on the establishment of new Injury Unit services across Ireland by assessing the geospatial and population implications of site options under consideration. Locations for six additional Injury Units have been agreed, including Injury Units in Athlone, Tallaght, Carlow, Killarney, Ballina and Letterkenny. The Injury Units in Athlone and Carlow are expected to open in Q4 of 2025.

Photo of Charles WardCharles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1001. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to establish a minor injuries clinic in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39661/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In 2023, a National Injury Unit Review was undertaken by a HSE Working Group who examined existing Injury Units and made a series of recommendations to improve services, including:

  • to expand geographical coverage and prioritise locations for the provisions of Injury units;
  • to expand all existing acute hospital governed Injury Units to operate from 8am to 8pm.
The objective of the Injury Unit expansion programme is to provide more equitable access to Injury Units, to avoid longer waiting times in Emergency Departments, and reduce unnecessary Emergency Department attendances for lower acuity patients. Expansion of Injury Units will be underpinned by a safe model of care as recommended by the Emergency Medicine Programme. The criteria for this prioritisation include population, existing Injury Unit locations, and gaps in geographical coverage.

The Programme for Government commitments on Urgent and Emergency Care include expansion of Injury Units, and this is being progressed across priority sites. The HSE undertook a study to inform regional and national decisions on the establishment of new Injury Unit services across Ireland by assessing the geospatial and population implications of site options under consideration. Locations for six additional Injury Units have been agreed, including Injury Units in Athlone, Tallaght, Carlow, Killarney, Ballina and Letterkenny. The Injury Units in Athlone and Carlow are expected to open in Q4 of 2025.

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