Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has welcomed the approval of the HSE Building and Equipment Capital Plan for 2026, which provides €6.25m for health facilities in the county.
The plan forms part of a €1.3 billion national allocation for healthcare infrastructure which also includes €61.5m for University Hospital Limerick and €1.9m for University Maternity Hospital Limerick.
Mr Cooney said the investment represents a significant commitment to improving access to care in Clare and across the Mid-West. He said the plan would support a health service that is under pressure from a growing and ageing population.
He said the announcement, which includes funding for Ennis Hospital, Bushy Park and Ennis Primary Care Centre, would help bring services closer to home and better meet the needs of patients and families.
“It has been clear for some time that capacity must increase in the region. The commitments set out in this plan are an important step and I will continue to work with colleagues to ensure that these projects move forward without delay,” he added.
The plan includes €3.6 million for a major expansion of Ennis Hospital, which will now move to design feasibility stage. The proposed development includes a 48-bed ward block, a new theatre block with two theatres, accommodation and four recovery bays.
A further €446,490 has been allocated for a new residential addiction treatment facility to replace the existing centre at Bushy Park. Funding of €1.1 million has been provided to progress the proposed replacement of St Joseph’s Community Nursing Unit to detailed design stage.
Refurbishment works at Inis Gile in Parteen for dual diagnosis and child and adolescent mental health services will be completed at a cost of €849,298. Fire safety upgrades at St Senan’s Nursing Home in Kilrush will receive €50,000. A planned extension to Scarriff Health Centre will undergo appraisal with €56,140 allocated. A dedicated area for an Enhanced Community Care hub at Ennis Primary Care Centre will be equipped at a cost of €101,052.
The €61.5 million allocation for University Hospital Limerick includes phase one of a second hospital block under the Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan, a new blood science and pathology facility, reconfiguration of the radiology department with a second MRI, completion of a 16 bed inpatient emergency ward and a second 16 bed inpatient ward unit, and advancement of a third 16 bed ward unit.
A further €1.9 million has been approved for appraisal of a proposed Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit at University Maternity Hospital Limerick.
Mr Cooney said the investment would support better services and outcomes for patients across the Mid-West and that he would continue to press for further improvements.
Commenting on the publication of the HSE Capital Plan, Minister Carroll MacNeill said, “I’m pleased to approve the publication of the HSE Capital Plan for 2026. By increasing capacity and developing the necessary infrastructure we will enable greater provision of care in our hospitals and in our communities, we are advancing the Sláintecare vision to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”