I thank Deputy Scanlon for his question about Sligo University Hospital. As the Deputy will be aware, a 42-bed block is being built in Sligo. I think it is Deputy Scanlon’s view that the oncology unit should be constructed at the same time. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in respect of this matter and come back to the Deputy on it. Obviously, a lot of work is being done in the orthopaedic theatre in Sligo University Hospital at present. It is proposed to replace the orthopaedic theatre. The options appraisal for this is complete and work is under way to make a case for submission for formal capital approval in the coming weeks. This option provides for two replacement orthopaedic theatres, as the Deputy indicated, and theatre storage facilities, along with some additional beds. There has been significant progress, expenditure and investment in that since 2020, as the Deputy knows. We have seen the budget grow from €160 million in 2022 to €246 million this year for Sligo, which is an increase of 54%. Additionally, staffing at the hospital has grown considerably. It has increased by 38%, from 1,677 in 2020 to 2,321 at the start of 2026. A total of 104 new beds have also been opened. Deputy Scanlon also raised the issue of the Sligo surgical hub. Following the announcement of the development of the Sligo surgical hub by the Minister in July last year, work has progressed to finalise the design brief. This includes the schedule of accommodation for the Sligo project. A tendering process is at the final stages to establish a major design team framework for the west and north-west region. This will facilitate the appointment of a design team for the Letterkenny and Sligo developments, with the aim of progressing both sites in parallel and ensuring a co-ordinated and efficient roll-out of this capacity in response to service need. It is planned to have the design team appointed in the first quarter of this year and then to commence the design phase early in the second quarter, from April onwards. The overall programme, including the timelines and capital costs associated with the developments at Sligo and Letterkenny, will become clearer as the following key milestones are progressed: the detailed schedule of accommodation in both facilities will be finalised; design teams will be appointed; planning applications will be lodged and planning permission secured; enabling works will be progressed; and construction contracts will be awarded for both facilities. Every effort will be made to fast-track these surgical hubs to a standardised design, including exploring opportunities to progress via existing contracts. As I said to the Deputy, I will specifically raise this matter with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.

Sentiment score: 0.19

I commend Deputy Scanlon on raising the question. As he knows, the programme for Government has committed the Government to exploring the provision of a surgical hub for the north west, in addition to establishing six new surgical hubs across the country. Delivery of the surgical hub in Sligo will be in line with the delivery of the other surgical hubs which are all new builds and which are taking in the order of four years for planning, design and construction. I can understand the Deputy’s desire to ensure this is expedited and sped up so the people of Sligo can have an even better medical hospital than they have at present. It has to be acknowledged that there have been very significant improvements to Sligo University Hospital in the past number of years.

Sentiment score: 0.42