I raise the issue of University Hospital Limerick where, as the Tánaiste is aware, 14,000 people lingered on trolleys last year. The position did not get any better in 2020. We saw increases of 25% in January and 32% in February. The figure increased each day in March until Covid arrived and people stopped attending the emergency department in huge numbers for a variety of reasons for the rest of March, April and May. Unfortunately, in July, the numbers are increasing again. There are already 266 people on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick. There was a plan to build three separate units, with a 24-bed unit, a 60-bed unit and a 96-bed unit. Will the Tánaiste advise us when these units will be operational? Has the HSE spoken to staff in the units to ensure they are not just built but staffed and operational?

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I will ask the Minister for Health to provide him with an accurate update about the progress of the projects to expand capacity in University Hospital Limerick in correspondence.