Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
1060. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently examine issues raised in respect of University Hospital Limerick and the HSE (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6206/26]
View answerThis government is fully committed to the improvement of healthcare services across the Mid West region, including at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). In the years since this tragic event occurred, there has been significant investment of funding and resources allocated to UHL and the Mid West region to help improve safety, quality and patients' experience of services.
Investment in the hospitals in the region has increased from €370 million in 2019 to €689 million in 2024. The UHL budget has almost doubled from €265 million to €507 million in the same period.
From 2019 to November 2025, staffing levels at UHL grew by 55%, an increase of 1,545 Whole Time Equivalents. This resulted in total numbers employed at UHL increasing from 2,814 to 4,359 during that period. This includes 300 more WTE doctors (including consultants), 571 more nurses and midwives, as well as 163 more health and social care professionals. Baseline implementation of the Safe Staffing Framework has also been funded in UHL. The Framework was implemented on a phased basis between 2022-2024 in all 22 medical and surgical wards and the ED.
The Capital Investment drawn down between 2020 and 2023 for the Mid West region was almost €142.2 million. €90.6 million of that figure was assigned to UHL. Through this investment, 236 new beds have opened in UHL since January 2020. This includes two fast tracked 16-bed inpatient blocks, and a new 96 bed block which opened in October 2025. In addition, enabling works are underway for the second 96 bed block at UHL.
In April 2024 the Government announced a package of measures to increase capacity, address overcrowding and deescalate the pressure experienced in the UHL Emergency Department. These measures included further increasing bed capacity, initiatives to divert patients from ED attendance as well as increasing staffing levels and further implementation of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing.
Also in 2024, the then Minister for Health asked HIQA to lead a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the Mid West region. HIQA published their independent and expert review on September 30th. The report is comprehensive and includes their advice to my Department and I.
We have also listened to the passionate and determined advocacy of the people of the Mid West region and their representatives for their health services. Their input has been reflected in the consultation run by HIQA, and their report.
HIQA’s review identifies three potential options for consideration, including:
• expand capacity at the UHL Dooradoyle site (Option A)
• extend the UHL hospital campus to comprise the existing Dooradoyle site and another site (Option B)
• develop a Model 3 hospital in the HSE Mid West, providing a second ED for the region (Option C)
Alongside these options, HIQA has presented an extensive number of additional considerations, including system-wide work that must be progressed in parallel.
I have analysed all three options and the extensive findings and considerations presented by the HIQA report in detail. On the 16th of December last I presented my proposed response to Government and received approval to progress with a blend of the proposed HIQA options necessary to respond to the challenges in the Mid West.
These include:
• Additional projects and care options to maximise capacity at UHL and across the spectrum of integrated care will be delivered to achieve Option A.
• To progress Option B, I will mandate the HSE to secure an available appropriate adjacent site. This will require the setting up of standard governance structures, establishing a project board, and exploring additional opportunities to decant services away from the main Dooradoyle site.
• To progress Option C, my Department and I will develop a strategic plan for the incremental reconfiguration and investment in healthcare services in the Mid West region.
