Hospital Services
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-26
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Malcolm Noonan (GP), Agricultural Panel

To add to what my colleague has said, the population catchment around St. Luke's is significant and has grown significantly over the last decade. It includes parts of south Kilkenny sometimes known as Waterford. From our meetings with the hospital team, it is clear there is an especially critical need for these posts to be filled. As my colleague said, four medical assessment unit, MAU, consultant general physicians, one consultant respiratory physician, one consultant cardiologist, a consultant dermatologist, a consultant rheumatologist and two consultant neurologists are required. These staff are absolutely vital to the services that St. Luke's provides.
The other issue in need of critical attention here is the development of the new-build Dolmen Wing ward block to replace the old medical one and medical two and surgical two units. These are the old long wards of the original 1941 hospital building, which served St. Luke's very well, but which became very challenging during Covid and had to be shut. The 86-bed Dolmen Wing ward block facility is a vital project that needs to be proceeded with. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-26