Press Statement
Kieran O’Donnell TD
O’Donnell welcomes over €25.3m for 18 Limerick Health infrastructure projects as Health Capital Plan for 2022 published
- Further €10.64m allocated for St. Camillus’ Hospital for Phase 1 of their 75 bed Community Nursing Unit to replace long stay beds
- €4.5m for construction to get underway on new 96 Acute bed block at University Hospital Limerick, taking approximately 20 months to build, bringing total new beds at UHL to 194
- €1.06m allocated for Neo-natal expansion at Regional Maternity Hospital
Limerick City & North Tipperary Fine Gael TD, Kieran O’Donnell has welcomed the direct confirmation he has received from the Minister for Health (See Table Below) that over €25.3m is being allocated to 18 Limerick health infrastructure projects as part of the 2022 Health Capital Plan announced this morning. This is part of the national Health capital allocation in 2022, totalling €1.02bn, an increase of 4% on 2021 for the construction and equipping of health facilities nationally.
“I very much welcome the direct confirmation I have received from the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly that €25.3m is being allocated for 18 Health Infrastructure Projects across Limerick under the Health Service Executive’s Capital Plan 2022 being published this morning.
“A further €10.64m has been approved for St. Camillus’ Hospital for Phase 1 of their 75 bed Community Nursing Unit to replace long stay beds. Construction works are underway here since late last year, with €7.6m HSE capital funded already allocated here in 2021. I also welcome that €1.06m has been allocated for neo-natal expansion at Regional Maternity hospital in Limerick City.
“Furthermore, significantly, €4.5m has been allocated to start the construction of the much needed 96 acute bed block at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in Dooradoyle. The HSE have already approved the preferred building contractor tender here and I hope construction works on site can start as quickly as possible. I have been campaigning for these additional beds at UHL for many years so it is very welcome that we have reached the critical construction phase milestone.
“The Tender document for the building contractor shows that the development will be a new 4-storey, 96 single bed, acute inpatient ward block extension (Gross Floor area of 9,817 sqm.) located above the existing 2 storey above ground Renal & Emergency Department, with an estimated total contract value of €50m and an estimated 20 month building period.
“Our region has an historical issue in terms of inadequate bed capacity. Along with the new 98 bed build in UHL over the last two years, which includes the new 60 bed block, the new 96 acute bed block, when completed would bring the total new beds on site in Dooradoyle to 194 and further assist in alleviating the overcrowding challenges we see here.
“I would like to thank the management and HSE estates for advancing this 96 bed block as fast as possible. Furthermore, I wish to compliment the extremely hard-working staff at UHL for their service and dedication to their patients.
“I look forward seeing all these much needed health building projects progressed over the coming period and I will continue to strongly advocate for increases in health funding here in Limerick and the Mid-west for provision of new health facilities and to improved bed capacity.
“The full list of Limerick projects funded under the Health Capital Plan 2022 are (The totals are in millions of euro and only refer to the funding allocated for 2022, and not the total for the project):
| Limerick | St. Camillus’, Limerick | Phase 1: 75 bed Community Nursing Unit to replace long stay beds in St. Camillus’ in two phases per Social Care priority list. Contract Approval – Board Decision No: 181220/59. | €10.64m |
| Limerick University Hospital | Construction of a new modular COVID-19 Laboratory to manage testing. The equipment and the team are currently housed in the Clinical Education and Research Centre which needs to return to education. On Pandemic Plan – 08/10/2020. | €0.06m | |
| Early pregnancy assessment unit at Limerick Maternity Hospital. High priority. | €0.1m | ||
| Fire Safety Upgrade -Phase 2: Installation of a fire alarm and emergency lighting system. | €1.2m | ||
| Lift Replacement Programme (4 No. Lifts). | €0.03m | ||
| Production Kitchen and Catering Upgrade | €1.2m | ||
| Reconfiguration and extension to current Radiology Department and provision of a second MRI. | €0.25m | ||
| The provision of a new Blood Science and Pathology Facility: This is a five phase development – Phase 1 complete, phase 2 complete Oct 21. Interim Facility delivered in 2017. | €0.7m | ||
| Ward Block Replacement: Provision of four wards of 24 No. beds each. Located over Emergency Department and Renal Dialysis Units. | €4.5m | ||
| Croom Orthopaedic Hospital | Fire upgrade works and passive fire safety works on a phased basis. | €1.06m | |
| New Orthopaedic Surgical Unit Development: Theatre and Central Sterile Supplies Department fit- out including link to St Anne’s Ward and lifts. Project excludes refurbishment of St Anne’s ward. On Pandemic Plan – 09/10/2020. | €0.2m | ||
| Provision of 24 Bed Rapid Build Ward: Single room accommodation as part of the COVID-19 Action Plan. Will include for future provision of Theatre Departmentt overhead. | €0.095m | ||
| Dooradoyle, Limerick | Accommodation for Community Intervention Team and Occupational Health Departments. | €0.1m | |
| Limerick | Provision of new Limerick Ambulance Base. Site purchased subject to planning 2020, Limerick Co. Council site. | €0.5m | |
| Limerick City – Roxtown Health Centre | Purchase of Roxtown Health Centre to provide additional (short term) Primary Care accomodation. Purchased building in 2018. Permanent solution – New Primary Care Centre in St. Josephs. | €0.2m | |
| Regional Maternity Hospital | Neo-natal expansion Phase 1: Relocate clinical staff 2020/21. Phase 2, 2022: Neo natal spaces to be provided. | €1.06m | |
| St. Ita’s, Newcastle West | Refurbishment and additional 12 bed extension – total 66 beds. | €3.3m | |
| St. Joseph’s Hospital, Limerick | Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Facility in grounds of St. Joseph’s to accommodate services currently in inappropriate (mostly rented) accommodation. | €0.15m | |
| Limerick Total | €25.345m |
END.