THE Minister for Health rejected suggestions that University College Hospital, Galway, was not getting its fair share of funding.
Mr Noonan said yesterday he was in the process of implementing £25 million worth of improvements to services and facilities there.
He confirmed that previously announced interim development at the hospital, costing £6 million, would start construction by September.
"There can be no basis for any suggestion that the west has got less than its fair share of health funding from this Government," he said. "When all the work of redevelopment and modernisation is completed, we will have spent over £25 million [at UCHG]."
The interim development and other works will include the provision of 50 new beds, new X-ray rooms, three new operating theatres, an extension and alterations to the accident and emergency department and a new public analyst laboratory.
Despite his message, 13 consultant surgeons issued a statement saying the interim development was seriously flawed as it would obstruct urgently required expansion of surgical services, which they felt would be better catered for in a stand alone surgical complex.
Meanwhile, the Western Health Board is to receive additional revenue which should allow Galway Hospice, a £2 million facility which has been idle for two years, to open, Mr Noonan said.