Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that more than 40 sports clubs in County Limerick received over €1.3 million in sports equipment grants. This is very welcome news for the clubs in question. Much of the money will be spent on refurbishing older equipment, but new equipment will also be purchased to benefit those participating in these sports. Community centres have also benefited from this funding.

It would be remiss of me not to welcome the news from the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, this morning that HIQA has been asked to carry out a review at University Hospital Limerick and the mid-west region. It is to look at whether a second accident and emergency department is needed in the region. When the smaller accident and emergency departments were closed down, this was done based on medical advice, including advice from clinicians and other experts. As we are all aware, much has happened at UHL. The hospital is in the news every day of the week for different reasons, including overcrowding and people being on trolleys.

HIQA found in its most recent report that the way of doing business in UHL has changed. I welcome the fact that a new team, with fresh eyes, has been brought in. This was something I had been looking for. I also welcome that HIQA will be carrying out this new review alongside the new team. The aim here is to have a better quality of care for the patients and better quality working conditions for the staff in the hospital. There are already more than 1,100 extra staff and 150 extra beds in the hospital. The way of doing business at UHL has changed but issues remain. The news this morning is therefore very welcome, as is the fact that the review team will report to Chief Justice Frank Clarke. I await that report.