Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 March 2026
520. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health how it is envisaged that the building of a new hospital in Limerick will serve the people of Clare, particularly North and West Clare whose travel time will still be excessive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21373/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government fully accepts and recognises the need to expand acute capacity in the Mid West and we are working to address the challenges facing acute care in this region.
On 30 September 2025, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), published its independent and expert review and advice to the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD informing decision-making around the design and delivery of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the Mid West Region.
In December 2025, the Minister for Health, having considered the expert advices from HIQA, received Government support to progress all options A, B and C.
Option A, to expand capacity at the UHL Dooradoyle site is being rapidly progressed including the delivery of a new 96-bed block in October 2025 and the ongoing work to deliver a second 96-bed block and planning for an additional 16 and 66 bed block at UHL.
Option B to extend the UHL hospital campus to comprise the existing Dooradoyle site and another site is also being progressed, as recently announced by the Minister for Health on 10th March. A site has been successfully secured in Raheen, Limerick, for expansion of the Dooradoyle campus. The newly acquired 44-acre site is just 2km from UHL. It is located approximately a half an hour drive from both Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals.
A project board is now being established to appropriately assess which UHL services can be relocated to this new site, and which services can be relocated to St John’s, Ennis or Nenagh Hospitals. This is aligned with the development of a strategic plan for the incremental reconfiguration and expansion of healthcare services across the Mid West Region.
I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the Mid West is fully supported and that the necessary improvements to address capacity in the region are actioned in a timely manner.
