Samples of asbestos have been found by contractors working on a new car park at University Hospital Galway.
The Health Service Executive said that based on information provided by its consultants there is no ongoing risk to patients or staff, or the wider public.
In a statement, the West/North West Hospitals Group confirmed that on Tuesday, the contractor working on a new car park at University Hospital Galway advised the HSE that minor amounts of asbestos containing material (ACM) were identified in four of 26 samples of soil tested from the site.
The site is a brown-field site on the UHG campus and the tests being undertaken by the contractor were routine brown-field site tests.
The HSE said the report did not include information on the concentration of the asbestos, which is currently being defined by a specialist laboratory.
It said that these results will inform the appropriate procedures for the safe management of the ACMs.
The HSE said that in defining the management plan, the contractor will engage with all relevant parties including the Health and Safety Authority and Galway City Council.
The contractor has ceased work in the area of the site concerned until results from sampling of the materials are available and this will inform the ongoing management of these materials.