Facilities solutions provider ABM wins €10m cleaning contract for Galway hospitals
US-headquartered ABM has been awarded a new healthcare contract worth €10m with Ireland's Heath Service Executive (HSE).
Under the contract, up to 350 staff who worked for the previous contract holder are transitioning to ABM to provide cleaning services across eight Galway hospitals - which include critical environments such as operating theatres and intensive care units.
University Hospital Galway is one of eight hospitals under the contract
The contract will see ABM work across all facilities at University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park University Hospital (MPUH), the Adult Acute Mental Health Unit (AAMHU) and five HSE administration buildings in Galway City.
It also includes work on the newly opened outpatients department and cystic fibrosis unit at MPUH.
'With the delivery of this contract, ABM is supporting the Department of Health's Waiting List Initiative to deliver reductions in waiting lists by having cleaning operatives available for out of hours clinics,' a HSE spokesperson explained.
'We have found ABM to have an extremely professional approach to providing cleaning services at the two public acute hospitals in Galway city,' Geoff Ginnetty, Services Manager at Galway University Hospitals, said of their latest contract win.
'ABM has so far demonstrated a responsiveness to the requirements of our hospitals, in a busy and challenging healthcare environment.
'We look forward to building on this promising start, to develop a strong working relationship between Galway University Hospitals and ABM.'
David Ferguson, Operations Director, All Ireland at ABM, said 'building on the success we have in the Irish healthcare sector by providing more facilities management services is part of our growth strategy'.
He added that this was a 'key differentiator in our successful bid' for the lucrative contract.
'We are looking forward to working together with our new team of over 350 people to deliver exceptional services and ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and safety throughout this critical setting,' he added.
Under the contract, ABM will invest €1m in new equipment, uniforms, training, and administration systems for their increased workforce.
See More: ABM, Cleaning, Facilities, Galway, Hospitals
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
‘They got it all wrong': Teenager's action against HSE over eye-squint surgeries settled for €120,000
A girl had six surgeries, which allegedly should not have taken place, to treat a congenital squint in one of her eyes, the High Court has heard. The girl, now a teenager, settled an action against the HSE on Thursday for €120,000 over her treatment at University Hospital Waterford. The settlement was reached without an admission of liability. In the girl's case it was claimed the surgery she had for a downward-looking eye allegedly caused an overcorrection and her eye then looked upward. READ MORE It was claimed that after the six surgeries the girl was left in a worse condition than she was in 2012 when she first had surgery as a toddler. Alan Keating SC, for the girl, told the court she was six-months-old when she was taken to the hospital as she had a congenital squint in her left eye. Counsel said that between the ages of two and seven years the girl had six surgeries involving the eye muscles, which their side would say 'were either wrong or should not have taken place at all'. Mr Keating said the first surgery resulted in an overcorrection where the child's eye then deviated upwards. Her right eye, which did not have a squint, was also operated on. 'Really, they got it all wrong,' he said at one stage. Mr Keating said the surgeries did not affect the girl's eyesight, but there is 'a profound cosmetic issue'. He said experts on their side would say that if nothing was done then it was likely the girl would now have a normal appearance. Experts on their side would also say that further squint surgery would be challenging, hazardous and unpredictable. In the proceedings against the HSE, it was claimed there was an alleged failure to discuss fully the risks and benefits of operating before the first surgery, including the risk of not improving the condition and needing further surgical procedures. There was also, it was claimed, an alleged failure to have such a conversation with the girl's parents in advance of the procedures. All the claims were denied. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable and he conveyed his best wishes to the teenager.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Taoiseach warns trade ban on Israeli settlements could hit Irish companies under US anti-boycott laws
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the government must tread carefully when considering the expansion of its proposed trade ban with Israeli settlements, stressing that including services could inadvertently harm Irish-based multinational companies due to US anti-boycott legislation. His comments come after Tánaiste Simon Harris last week published a fresh outline of the Occupied Territories Bill, which seeks to prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements. The bill will affect imports from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights – territories occupied since 1967 and widely recognised under international law as illegally held. While the current draft focuses on goods only, Harris has signalled that he wants to include services in a future version of the bill. However, Martin expressed concern about the legal and economic risks of doing so. 'That's an issue we have to factor in, because we don't want any companies or multinationals in Ireland inadvertently being caught up in this,' he said, referring to US anti-boycott laws. Martin made the comments today during a visit to Japan. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'We do have to factor in the presence of American legislation, the boycotting divestment legislation, which is already passed by numerous states in America, which would penalise any company that, from an American perspective, participates in boycotts.' Martin said that several US states have passed anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) laws, which penalise companies seen as boycotting Israel or Israeli-controlled areas. More than 30 US states have passed so-called anti-BDS laws that penalise companies or entities seen to be boycotting Israel or Israeli-controlled territories. These laws often apply regardless of whether the boycott targets Israel itself or the settlements specifically – something Martin said poses a risk of misinterpretation. 'Whilst we're just involved in the Occupied Territories, not Israel as a country, there's a concerted campaign in terms of misrepresenting the Irish position, so that's an issue we have to factor in,' Martin said. Advertisement Martin also addressed criticism that the government is backing away from the moral argument in favour of protecting economic interests. 'It's not commercial, like it's putting bread and butter on people's table,' he said, noting the presence of 'hundreds of thousands' of jobs in Ireland linked to multinational employers. 'The object of the exercise here is to put pressure on Israel, not to disadvantage Ireland unduly and that's a factor.' The Taoiseach acknowledged the symbolic importance of the legislation, but said it was important to be 'clear-eyed' about its potential impact. 'There's no point in Ireland coming out worse if it has no impact on Israel. That's the only point I'm making, we have to be clear-eyed in terms of the impact. People should know about the impact.' He also raised practical concerns about how a ban on services would even be enforced. 'How do you actually detect, how do you punish the offence, the practicalities around all of that. Those are real and the bill is fundamentally symbolic, it's important.' The Occupied Territories Bill, first introduced in 2018, proposed banning the import and sale of goods and services originating in illegal settlements, as well as the extraction of resources from those areas. The revised version of the bill, now known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, would criminalise only the importation of goods, under the Customs Act 2015. Services are not currently covered, though Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is seeking further legal advice and wants to bring services into scope where possible. 'There isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' Harris said last Wednesday. 'Ireland is leading – but we have to do this properly.' The bill is expected to go before an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny later this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Ulster Rugby secure new naming-rights partner for Ravenhill Stadium
ULSTER RUGBY HAVE secured a new long-term naming-rights sponsorship deal for Ravenhill Stadium. Effective immediately, the home of Ulster Rugby will officially become known as Affidea Stadium (pronounced AF-fi-DAY-ah) after the northern province agreed a partnership with the European healthcare company. In a statement, Ulster said that the new partnership will provide 'a strong platform to invest in the development of players, facilities and fan experience'. Advertisement Affidea, who entered the Irish market in 2007 with the acquisition of MRI Ireland, now operates in over 16 countries and has 410 clinics across Europe. Affidea Ireland have recently expanded their footprint in the north, with plans approved for the company to open a state-of-the-art private hospital in Belfast in 2026. The new facility is set to include an orthopaedic and sports medicine centre of excellence. Ulster CEO Hugh McCaughey said that the province is 'delighted to welcome Affidea as our new stadium naming-rights partner.' 'Affidea shares our passion for high performance, our commitment to the health and wellbeing of people across the province, and our vision for the future of rugby in Ulster,' McCaughey added. 'Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster.' Barry Downes, CEO of Affidea UK and Ireland said: 'Affidea is thrilled to partner with Ulster Rugby, a club with rich heritage, passionate support, and a deep-rooted connection to the local community. 'This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Affidea to further grow our presence and impact in the province of Ulster. Rugby is a game that inspires excellence, teamwork, and trust, values that align strongly with our approach to healthcare. We're proud to see our name on a stadium that also represents those ideals.' Ireland's senior women's team will play the first game at the newly branded Affidea Stadium on 9 August (. Scott Bemand's side will host Canada 48 hours before the head coach announces his squad for the Rugby World Cup.
