Naas General endoscopy unit
Deputy James Lawless sought progress on a promised replacement endoscopy unit at Naas General Hospital. Deputy Simon Harris said he was aware of the urgent need and would revert directly to the Deputy.
Chapter five of the programme for Government deals extensively with investment in the health service and local hospitals. Naas General Hospital in my constituency serves 200,000 people across County Kildare and west Wicklow. One of the units most under pressure in the hospital is the endoscopy unit. I recently visited the unit which is located in a prefabricated building in an old part of the hospital. Under a previous agreement, the hospital's endoscopy unit was to be replaced with a new unit. I understand the tender has not yet issued. While some progress has been made, the new unit, which has been repeatedly delayed, is now needed urgently. Perhaps the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health will give an update on the status of the project.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Lawless for raising this issue. Having visited the facility in question on a visit to Naas General Hospital in the not too distant past, I am very much aware of the urgent need to progress it. The Government is determined to do so and the Health Service Executive is working out its capital allocation for the next number of years. I will revert to Deputy Lawless directly on the matter.