Hospital Facilities
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-17
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Dee Ryan (FF), Nominated by the Taoiseach

That distinction matters if we are to be clear and direct with the public about what is required to make UHL safe.
I welcome the Minister’s commitment to maximise the use of space on the current site at Dooradoyle, option A, in tandem with identifying a nearby adjacent site for the extension of services at UHL, option B.
I just have three questions. Does the Minister envisage the relocation of the maternity hospital on the Ennis Road in Limerick to option B, the second site adjacent to Dooradoyle under the governance of UHL? That would be in line with the long-standing objective of full colocation of maternity services and acute hospital care. The very welcome announcement in the media yesterday did not specify the provision of a second emergency department for the region. I acknowledge that the Minister has said she will proceed with option C. Given the scale of population growth and the level of existing demand in the mid-west, will the Minister clarify whether she envisages a second emergency department as part of option C?
This morning, Oireachtas colleagues from across the mid-west have been responding to yesterday's welcome announcement. Queries are arising in the context of funding. The national development plan, NDP, envelope which the Minister announced last week may not support fully funding the scale of investment needed across the mid-west. Will the Minister provide clarity on where funding for these projects will come from?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-17