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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

UHL modular unit

Summary

Deputy Neville sought a timeline for deploying a modular unit at University Hospital Limerick after an objection was withdrawn. The Taoiseach said he did not have the exact information but acknowledged overcrowding problems and said the Health Minister would follow up.

Will the Taoiseach provide an update on the deployment of a modular unit at University Hospital Limerick, UHL? Two weeks ago, we learned there was an objection to this from An Bord Pleanála, which it has, thankfully, dropped. We need to move this as quickly as possible. Will the Taoiseach give a specific timeline as to when this modular unit could be put in place to alleviate the backlog in the emergency department in UHL?

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I do not have that information for the Deputy. I know there have been considerable improvements and considerable investments in UHL in recent years, such as the new emergency department and the Leben building which will provide additional bed capacity. Unfortunately, this has not led to significant improvements in overcrowding in the hospital and we need the modular build. I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to provide the Deputy with more information on that. Perhaps it demonstrates once again that relieving overcrowding in our emergency departments is as much about clinical leadership and efficiency in management as it is about bed capacity.

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