Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
662. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the progress that is being made with the construction of a new emergency department at University Hospital Galway; when the additional bed capacity will be made available; the additional staff that will be recruited to cope with the increased workload; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Galway University Hospital interim emergency department, including additional resuscitation spaces, support accommodation, and improved infection prevention and control measures, is currently under construction using a rapid build solution. The critical services are expected to be completed by end of June 2022.
The proposal for a new Emergency Department (ED) and Women & Children’s project is a large and complex project and is in the early stages of design progression. Nevertheless, the works on the interim ED were also carried out in such a way so as to be enabling works for the larger proposal.
Originally the proposal was for a new multistorey ED block, but now, driven by local requirements and the need to build more efficiently on a constricted site, the Department of Health will shortly be receiving proposals costed in the hundreds of millions. Since scale, complexity and investment proposed now is much greater the proposal must be subject to the necessary scrutiny under the Public Spending code.
The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.
These are defined processes in which all Departments and agencies are subject to and must follow to ensure that Government, as the approving authority for all major projects, can be satisfied that the project is the best means to achieve a policy goal and that we achieve maximum value for money for the taxpayer.
HSE is nearing completion of drafting a Strategic Assessment Report, to ensure full compliance with PSC requirements for the more substantial proposals. It is now expected to be submitted to my Department by early Q3 2022.
If granted approval-in principle, the preliminary business case can then be updated by the HSE and be brought forward for review to progress those proposals.
I have referred the questions relating to the additional bed capacity and additional staff to be recruited to the HSE for direct reply.
