TD raises overcrowding issue in this Kildare hospital in the Dáil

A Social Democrats TD for Kildare North has raised the matter of overcrowding in Naas General Hospital, Co Kildare in the Dáil.

Deputy Aidan Farrelly raised the issue recently with Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler (FF).

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Farrelly stated that when it comes to Naas General Hospital, people must “pray” that they or their family do not need to visit the hospital, due to overcrowding.

This is not because of the level of care provided, he explained, but due to the issue of capacity, adding the toll it takes on people's health outcomes is “monumental.”

Deputy Farrelly told the Minister of State that now with a population of 250,000 people, Kildare has experienced exponential growth in the past 30 years, more than doubling from the 1990s.

The county, he said, has been “failed” by successive governments which have “utterly failed” in their duty to deliver the necessary social infrastructure required in tandem with housing.

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Speaking of overcrowding at Naas General Hospital, the Social Democrats TD said: “Some 255 people were cared for on trolleys in November this year and why I raise this with the Minister of State. I raise this issue because it appears that this has become an acceptable norm in Naas General Hospital.

“We do not have other options in Kildare. The out-of-hours services are not there to meet the capacity constraints in our county.

“I call on the Minister of State to raise this issue with the Minister for Health and ask for a meeting to be convened between the HSE, management and representatives in Kildare North and Kildare South to talk about the issues of fundamental importance when it comes to reducing the (overcrowding) number from the mid 200s as much as we can over the next number of years.”

Responding to Deputy Farrelly, Deputy Butler said she “did not realise” the population of Kildare now stood at 250,000, and admitted the figure represented “huge population growth.”

With regard to the situation at Naas General Hospital, the Minister of State told Deputy Farrelly that the hospital “continues to experience sustained pressure across all service areas.”

Deputy Butler said: “In 2020, Naas General Hospital received a €74 million budget. In 2025, the budget allocation for the hospital rose to €130 million. This investment in recent years is fundamental to supporting the ongoing development of services and ensuring that Naas General Hospital will continue to play an invaluable role in the delivery of health services to the local community in the years ahead.

“Notwithstanding the almost doubling of the budget between 2020 and 2025, I take on board the points the Deputy has raised. I will be very happy to discuss them with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill.

“I will give the Deputy a commitment on the floor of the Dáil that I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to see what more supports can be provided for the hospital. I look forward to seeing the announcement in relation to where some of this national development plan health capital allocation of €1.56 billion for 2026 goes. I will certainly relay the Deputy's concerns to the Minister.”