Planning for the development of Ennis General Hospital is under way. This work is being directed by a project team, which includes representatives of my Department, the Mid-Western Health Board and the hospital itself. The recently appointed design team is preparing an outline development control plan and it is expected that completion of the plan will take approximately six months. This process will facilitate definition of the scope and content of the first phase of redevelopment for Ennis General Hospital. The proposed priority areas for development include the emergency department, outpatients department, radiology and in-patient ward areas. The ODCP will in turn help to confirm final decisions in this regard.