LIMERICK has been handed the highest allocation of money for health related building projects in the country outside Dublin, with the approval of €136 million for hospital beds, community care and new maternity and ambulance facilities.
Government have today approved the publication of the Health Service Executive’s Building and Equipment Capital Plan for 2026. This plan brings an investment of over €136 million to Limerick as part of a €1.3 billion allocation nationally for the development and enhancement of healthcare infrastructure and facilities.
Among the projects to get funding are:Provision of the second 96-bed block at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) which is currently at tender stage for the appointment of a building contractor and provision of a third 16-bed block due to go to tender stage in the next four months.
€47.6 million is allocated for construction of the Limerick Surgical Hub on O’Connell Avenue, Limerick City, currently underway and due for completion by the end of 2026. The Hub will include four operating theatres and two minor procedure rooms.
€5.8 million is set aside to build a new ambulance base at Rosbrien.
€1.6 million is in the kitty to progress an additional 78 bed block at St. John’s Hospital, Limerick City, as the project undergoes design feasibility in 2026.
€3.5 million to progress the design of a Community Children & Adolescent Mental Health Facility in grounds of St. Joseph’s (to accommodate services currently in unsuitable (mostly rented) accommodation. The plan includes ronnovation of a heritage building on-site.
€1,9 million for design for the proposed new Proposed new Primary Care Building at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mulgrave Street.
Also allocated money were 25 replacement beds at the Community Nursing Unit (CNU) in St. Camillus’ Hospital, a study on relocating the maternity hospital to e University Hospital Limerick campus, and an early pregnancy assesment unit at the maternity.
DEtailed design funding for Dolmen House, Limerick Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Crisis Resolution Services, the purchase of Dooradoyle Health Centre, and adjoining lands, to be used in the interim as a Health Centre and in future for Hospital Outpatient/ Clinical uses.
Welcoming the confirmation of a total allocation of €136,081,945 for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan TD said: “This is an unprecedented level of investment in healthcare infrastructure for Limerick. Over €136 million will be invested across our hospitals and community services in 2026 alone.
“This funding will significantly expand capacity at University Hospital Limerick, strengthen older persons’ care, enhance primary care services and deliver major new infrastructure for the Mid-West.”
Fine Gael TD for Limerick City and Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell also welcomed the funding. He said: “It is significant that Limerick is receiving the second highest allocation of capital funding nationally, outside of Dublin, reflecting the importance of investing in our health services here.
“Importantly, the commitment by Government to deliver further vital bed capacity for Limerick and the Mid-West is being advanced this year by the HSE who will “Progress the acquisition of a second site in close proximity to the existing Dooradoyle hospital site to extend the University Hospital Limerick campus over both sites to support the delivery of healthcare services under a single governance and shared resourcing mode”.