Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. It has serious capacity issues. The base bed numbers do not match the need. The accident and emergency department is regularly at capacity, requiring the hospital to enable surge capacity. This has knock-on effects such as outpatient appointments being cancelled. That is not to mention people on trolleys and waiting lists. Dundalk and Drogheda are two of the largest towns in the country. I ask that the feasibility of establishing a surgical hub in Louth County Hospital in Dundalk be considered. It is a practical and cost-effective way to look after the health needs of the people of Louth and the north east.

I am aware of the issues the Deputy has referred to, which affect not only the people of Louth, but also those of the wider north east, as the Deputy has said. The location of surgical hubs depends on the evaluation and recommendation of the HSE. The Minister and the Department of Health then do their best to act on such recommendations. I am not aware whether such a recommendation has been made for the Deputy's hospital but I will certainly pass this on to the Minister for Health because I know the availability of surgical hubs makes a really big difference to waiting lists and, more importantly, to the health of those who are on them. I thank the Deputy for raising this. I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is aware of the matter.