Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Minister for Health for an overview of the health capital projects currently in construction and in design across Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52194/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Health whether she has set a deadline for the finalisation of the design for the elective hospital in Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, Cork; the deadline for the planning application submission for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52405/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Government is actively working to increase elective care capacity in Ireland, ensuring that high-quality and timely scheduled care is available to all. New elective facilities will support the separation of scheduled (elective) and emergency care. This can lead to improved care for patients with fewer cancellations and delays for elective care caused by seasonal surges, localised outbreaks, and surges in emergency attendances.

The Programme for Government committed to building four new elective hospitals (Cork, Galway and Dublin – 2 sites), establishing six new Surgical Hubs (South Dublin, North Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford), and exploring the feasibility of a hub in the northwest. I was delighted to open the first of our new surgical hubs at Mount Carmel in February this year. The surgical hubs in Swords, Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick are all under construction and expected to become operational in 2026. In July I also announced plans for two new surgical hubs in the North West, to be located in Sligo and Letterkenny. The HSE is now planning for these.

The recently announced NDP funding envelope (€9.25 billion for 2026 – 2030) will support the progression of key health sector priorities over the next 5 years including delivery of the surgical hub programme and progressing detailed design and statutory planning for the new elective hospitals.

The NDP review commits to progressing Programme for Government commitments on a phased basis over the course of the NDP and allows for flexibility to prioritise ‘shovel-ready’ projects that have received all necessary final statutory approvals and are under, or ready to begin, construction.

In relation to the elective hospitals, sites have been identified for development in Cork (St Stephen's), Galway (Merlin Park) and Dublin (2 sites – Connolly Hospital and Crumlin).

The HSE is currently actively undertaking significant design for Cork and Galway, with Dublin to follow in due course. An Integrated Design Team is progressing design and engagement to inform statutory planning submissions and the regulatory approvals required for the elective treatment centres. Surveys and site investigations have been conducted, and these are informing the design and planning applications for enabling works on the sites in Cork and Galway.

The HSE is also progressing Enabling Packages in advance of main construction and is engaging with statutory planning authorities to progress the necessary planning permission applications.

Timelines for the design process and subsequent programme development are closely related to engagement with planning and other regulatory authorities. It is important to ensure that these processes are rigorous and fully consider all options in developing the most appropriate solutions for the chosen sites.