Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
1116. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline in detail the additional capacity to be provided in the two new elective hospitals for Dublin (details supplied); if these will be standalone facilities; the timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15197/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe government is fully committed to increasing elective-only day-case capacity through the Elective Ambulatory Care Programme. This is being delivered in two phases: a national network of Surgical Hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity, and, in the longer term, a network of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Cork, Galway and Dublin.
These new ‘elective-only’ facilities are for day-case patients, they are not for acute or emergency care. Significant international evidence supports the separation of scheduled (elective) and non-scheduled (emergency) care, leading to improved care for all patients. These elective facilities will provide routine treatments, procedures and consultations which have been scheduled in advance for non-emergency issues. There are no in-patient beds; instead, patients arrive and leave on the same day.
In relation to the two for Dublin, demand modelling is currently underway, ahead of detailed design for the new Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, to ensure that we can meet our longer-term elective care capacity requirements. The modelling includes an assessment of current capacity/infrastructure and how it can be best utilised to meet future needs. The impact of the four surgical hubs which come within the Dublin and surrounding HSE Health Regions (Tallaght, Swords, Mount Carmel and Waterford) as well as other existing facilities and future requirements are being considered as part of this process.
On conclusion of this demand modelling work, the Preliminary Business Case for Dublin will be finalised. It would be premature to try to give a number of theatres, rooms, etc prior to this work being concluded.
