Hospital Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-08
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

I reiterate that the HSE West and North West regional executive officer, Mr. Canavan, is currently working on the development of an investment package, including targeted supports for both the Galway and Roscommon areas. This includes enhancements to acute, community and diagnostic capacity across the region. While this work is at an early stage, consideration is being given to the feasibility of the development of an injury unit in Galway. It is very important that I repeat that. A sum of €84,000 was allocated for the appraisal of a Galway injury unit.
I have been a Minister of State in the Department of Health for the last six years. What we are about in the Department is improving capacity and trying to ensure the throughput in emergency departments and acute hospitals is fluid. It is also important that we deliver community supports on the ground. Some 225,000 people attended minor injury units last year, and the median time taken was one and a half hours. There is no comparison.
I think the Deputy is pushing an open door, and he should continue to push it and engage locally as well. The Minister has a plan for this year to open four new units. Everything depends on funding and more units will be opened next year. The Deputy's intervention is very timely.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-08/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-08