Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1749. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date with the development of the new emergency department and women’s and children’s block at University Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42922/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Emergency Department (ED) and Women & Children’s project at University Hospital Galway (UHG) is a large and complex proposal, which is in the early stages of design development.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages of the updated Public Spending Code (PSC).
Since there has been a very significant increase in the scale and ambition of the proposals- now estimated to cost hundreds of millions of euro- they are therefore now subject to the full scrutiny of the PSC for projects in excess of €100m. These are defined processes 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 taxpayers.
The Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposed Emergency Department (ED), Women & Children’s block at UHG has recently been submitted to my Department and is currently being reviewed to ensure that it aligns with strategic policy considerations for the services proposed. If Departmental review is successful, the SAR will be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for review in line with PSC Gate 0 requirements. This additional scrutiny, required under the PSC, can ensure fuller risk mitigation, early identification of potential obstacles, and smoother execution of later stages of the project lifecycle. If approval-in principle is granted at Gate 0, the preliminary business case can be updated by the HSE and be brought forward for PSC Gate 1 review.
In the meantime, approval was granted for an interim emergency department at UHG, including additional resuscitation spaces, support accommodation and improved infection prevention and control measures. This interim ED and associated works will also serve as enabling works for the larger proposals; freeing up the site required for the proposed new block. Practical completion of the interim ED was achieved in July 2022 and the commissioning/equipping/training phase is now underway. It is anticipated that the interim ED will transition from existing ED and become operational in early Q4 2022.
