I have previously raised the issue of the vital emergency department at Mayo University Hospital. Yesterday, more than 24 people were left on trolleys at the department and the hospital was forced to issue a statement noting that in excess of 170 patients attended the department last Monday, which is 30% higher than average, leading to extremely lengthy waiting times. Staff are working in very difficult circumstances to try to care for people who are critically ill or injured. This is a project that has been promised to the people of Mayo for the past ten years. Why can the Minister for Health and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform not expedite this project like others done during the Covid emergency? These are exceptional circumstances with serious safety concerns. Can all agencies not work together so that this project can be fast-tracked and delivered to those who deserve it most?

I think we can expedite this project and I think we should. I have not had an update on it in several weeks but I will get one and pass it on to the Deputy. I will be meeting the new CEO of the HSE. I certainly want to see us expediting capital projects in hospitals across the country, not just in Castlebar. I know this is an important one. Notwithstanding the extra 1,000 beds that have been added to hospitals in the past three years and 20,000 more staff, demand has increased considerably. Even for this time of year in May, there is an unusually high number of patients on trolleys. As the Deputy pointed out, attendances are 15% to 30% higher than would have been the case in May 2019. It is very hard to understand what is driving this and it seriously concerns me.