Government formally approves investment of €63.6m in healthcare infrastructure in Galway
The Government has formally approved investment of €63.6m in healthcare infrastructure in Galway this year as part of the HSE’s Building Equipment Capital Plan for 2026.
Among the projects included in the multi-million allocation signed off by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was €2.2m for design works to allow a planning application to be submitted this year for a new elective hospital at Merlin Park.
Confirmation of investment in Merlin Park came on the same day the HSE again apologised for supplying incorrect information last week about the proposed elective hospital, which sparked downgrade fears for that project and its potential knock-on impact on a proposed new Emergency Department at UHG.
At the HSE West Regional Health Forum on Tuesday, Integrated Health Area Manager for Galway/Roscommon Ann Cosgrove apologised for “factually incorrect” information issued by the HSE which was “not intended to be misleading”.
The HSE last week apologised to Galway West TD John Connolly (FF) for giving him inaccurate information about the long-promised elective hospital at Merlin Park, seen as key to the delivery of new facilities at UHG’s overcrowded city site.
Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O’Hara, quizzed Taoiseach Michéal Martin this week about the Government and HSE's "mixed messaging" regarding plans for an elective hospital at Merlin Park, which he said caused “huge confusion and uncertainty”.
An Taoiseach, in reply, reiterated the Government commitment an elective hospital was going ahead at Merlin Park to ease pressure on the acute hospital at UHG.
Education Minister and Galway West Fine Gael TD, Hildegarde Naughton – one of the main political drivers of a new elective hospital – welcomed its inclusion in the capital plan.
The announcement, including investment in a new surgical hub, elective hospital, replacement community nursing unit and phase two of the Outpatient Department in Merlin Park, was “welcome news that will help bring healthcare services closer to home and better meet the needs of patients and families in our community,” Minister Naughton said.
The plan also included funding to progress the masterplan for UHG through design and feasibility stages including two additional ward blocks as part of the national Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan.
Referencing “misleading reports”, arising from the HSE’s inaccurate information, Minister Naughton reiterated the capital plan, “includes €2.245 million to complete the necessary works in order that designs for our new elective hospital in Merlin Park are submitted to planning this year”.
Meanwhile, Deputy Connolly and party colleague County Councillor Gerry King welcomed a €5.7m capital injection for three projects in Connemara.
This included more than €5m for a 40-bed community nursing unit in Clifden, which is at detailed design stage; €336,840 to replace the primary care centre in Inishbofin; and €480,000 for refurbishment of the 1960s health centre and ambulance base at Recess Health Centre.
Galway East TD Seán Canney (Ind), a Minister of State, welcomed the plan’s proposals for a cancer care centre at UHG, a new ambulance base at Ballinasloe, and new injury unit for Galway at Merlin Park.
Other projects progressing through design stages at UHG that received funding were a research hybrid cardiac catheterisation laboratory, and new medical laboratory building.
Minister Canney also welcomed developments at Merlin Park – including a 61-bed community nursing unit, minor injury unit, surgical hub and new Outpatients Department – which will help ease pressure on UHG.
“These developments represent steady and structured progress in strengthening hospital capacity in Galway. Given UHG’s and Merlin Park's role in the region this work will directly benefit communities throughout the West of Ireland,” he said.
Health Minister MacNeill said the Galway projects were part of a €1.3 billion investment in healthcare infrastructure this year.