Wexford General Hospital unit
Deputy Murphy said the promised 96-bed unit for Wexford General Hospital had slipped from design stage to merely a strategic report, with inadequate capital allocation. The Tánaiste disputed part of her claim, and the Health Minister said there had been delay, that he had intervened, and that rapid-build options were being explored.
Some 23 months ago, the Ireland East Hospital Group, IEHG, announced that a new 96-bed unit for Wexford General Hospital had gone to design stage. That was 23 months ago. On 11 January 2023, our local newspaper reporter, David Looby, said there is no design stage. Why are the people of Wexford less important? We got a measly €780,000 out of a €23 billion budget from the Department of Health. Wexford was allocated €780,000.
Comment on this
That is true. I have the figures here. I have the response to my parliamentary question from the Minister, who now says we are only at the strategic report stage. We have now gone from being at design stage, which was confirmed, to not being anywhere near it and having no capital budget for the unit. I ask the Tánaiste to clarify for the people of Wexford when they will get not another politician, but their 96-bed unit.
Comment on this
This is a matter the Deputy and I have discussed, and on which the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, engages with me probably on a weekly basis. There was a delay that I and none of the Wexford representatives are satisfied with. I have intervened. We are looking at a rapid-build process, which the Tánaiste referenced earlier. We are all aware that it takes too long to put these essential builds in place. I am working with colleagues across the Government and with the HSE to see not only what beds we can put in place but how we can do it quicker than the normal process would allow for, for the very reasons the Deputy has outlined.
Comment on this
Can it be clarified how it went from the design stage?