Call for €18.4m. Mayo ED extension to be 'delivered with speed'

A Mayo TD has requested that the HSE estates team is 'adequately resources' to deliver the planned €18.4 million extension to the Mayo emergency department in Castlebar 'with speed'.

The matter was raised with the head of the HSE Paul Reid by Deputy Alan Dillon.

The Castlebar-based representative stated: "I welcome that funding of €18.4 million was approved for an extension to the emergency department of Mayo University Hospital.

"I ask that HSE estates is adequately resourced to deliver on this project with speed.

"The hospital is crying out for this extension. It was built to cater for over 20,000 patients and that figure now exceeds 40,000 annually.

"I would really appreciate if Mr. Reid could work with his team to see how, after funding has been allocated, we can work through the process of procurement, tender and construction."

In response, Mr Reid said he appreciated there are many frustrations from everybody's perspective with capital projects.

"But in fairness to our HSE estates team it has a strong track record of delivering big strategic projects in-house, particularly this year with the national forensic mental hospital and the national rehabilitation hospital.

"However, I appreciate the frustrations around the procurement and planning issues that emerge."