A FURTHER new 96-bed block for University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is a step closer after the awarding of a contract for the works.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister of State for Older People and Limerick City TD Kieran O’Donnell welcomed a further milestone in the ongoing expansion of bed capacity at UHL.
Following a public procurement process, the HSE awarded the contract to John Sisk & Son for the delivery of the new ‘Block B’ ward block.
This will be the second 96‑bed ward block to progress on the UHL campus in recent times, following the successful completion and occupancy of the first 96‑bed ward building in 2025, along with two 16-bed rapid builds in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Welcoming the development, Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “I know how important this project is for patients, staff, and families in Limerick and across the Mid West. The award of this contract is another important step forward to increase much-needed inpatient bed capacity for the region.
“The 128 beds we have opened since the end of 2024 have already made a very positive contribution to UHL and the people of the Mid West, and the ‘Block B’ ward block will continue those positive improvements.”
Minister O’Donnell added that “the awarding of the contract for the construction of the second 96-bed inpatient ward block marks a further significant milestone in the provision of additional bed capacity at University Hospital Limerick and will deliver enhanced healthcare services for patients, their families and staff in Limerick and the Mid West region”.
In addition to the two new 16-bed units now in place and a new 96-bed block opened in October 2025, a further 16-bed unit is due for completion this year, and a design team has been appointed for a 66-bed block.
Across Ennis, Nenagh, and St John’s Hospitals, an additional 114 beds are planned by 2031. In total, 420 beds are expected to be delivered in the region.
In March 2026, the HSE secured a site in Raheen following a mandate provided by the Minister in December 2025.
The newly acquired 44-acre site is just two kilometres from UHL and provides an opportunity to provide meaningful additional capacity and health services to the people of Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary.
The Raheen site will extend the capacity of the hospital across the two sites in line with the HIQA recommendations.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said that her “priority is to ensure that HIQA’s recommendations are delivered in a timely and coordinated way, and that people in the Mid West can rely on safe, high-quality care when they need it”.
The 96-bed ‘Block B’ works contract includes a four‑month pre‑construction services period, which will facilitate detailed planning, design coordination, and preparation ahead of the main construction phase.
Main construction works are scheduled to start on site in October 2026, with project completion targeted for the Autumn 2029.