Chronic underfunding in our health service left us on the back foot when it came to this pandemic. We recently heard that there is no date in sight for when a planning application might be lodged for the new accident and emergency department at University Hospital Galway, UHG. In the past two weeks, UHG has consistently been the most or second most overcrowded hospital in the State. We cannot return to pre-pandemic overcrowding in our hospitals. We know we have an infrastructural deficit in this area. What will be done to urgently combat this problem in Galway?

Is the Deputy saying the issue is the planning application?

There is no date for the new accident and emergency department for the hospital.

The investment will be provided and we are committed to it. I will get the details for the Deputy in that regard. I thought the Deputy said there was an issue with the planning application being submitted. Is that the case?

We cannot have a two-way conversation. I call Deputy Richmond.

I just did not catch the first part of the Deputy’s question.