Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen to meet with Minister for Health to discuss petition on reopening of Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Emergency Departments

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Martin Browne said: “The Midwest Hospital Campaign Group is seeking the reopening of the emergency departments at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals, which were closed in 2009 and replaced with minor injuries clinics as part of a reorganisation of the emergency services centred at University Hospital Limerick.

“The petitioners believe the loss of the EDs at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s has significantly increased pressure on the ED at UHL which is overcrowded on a daily basis as it treats patients from across Clare, north Tipperary and county Limerick, as well Limerick city. The campaign group is seeking the reopening of the closed EDs and the development of Level 3 trauma facilities as a part of an expansion of emergency hospital services in the Midwest.

“This is an important issue of considerable public interest in the Midwest area and beyond, and the Committee welcomes the engagement of Minister Donnelly and the HSE with this petition. Members looks forward to discussing the overcrowding crisis at UHL and the petitioners’ request for reopening of some or all of the former EDs, and related matters.”

The Committee will also consider the following petitions:

Public Petition Number P00034/24 ‘Future of the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit, Roscrea’;
Public Petition Number P00036/24 ‘Action needed for derelict buildings in Youghal, Co. Cork’;
Public Petition Number P00037/24 ‘Mandate life-saving measures for babies born at 22 weeks in all Irish hospitals’.

The Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen is a standing Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas and has 11 Members, seven from the Dáil and four from the Seanad.

The meeting in the Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.