102. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop capital projects in Naas Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52285/26]

Naas General Hospital (NGH) is a Model 3 Hospital serving a catchment area with a population of over a quarter of a million people, and caters for patient activity through the Emergency Department (ED), Inpatient Department, Out-patients Department and Day Services Department.

NGH is a congested and restricted site. As such it is imperative that any capital investment in this busy hospital maximises value and minimises disruption to ongoing services. To this end, a Development Control Plan (DCP) is being put in place for the hospital.

The DCP will inform decision making in terms of sequencing, and staging of construction projects currently proposed for the site, to ensure construction projects are aligned with service requirements and integrate with existing critical infrastructure.

Recent changes in priorities have necessitated the revision and updating of the Naas General Hospital DCP.

Current project proposals for NGH, which will be addressed through the revised and updated DCP, include:

• 15-bay transition unit

• 50-bed Acute Mental Health Unit

• A multistorey carpark

• Second CT Scanner

The Naas General Hospital DCP will set out how future capital investment at the hospital will address service needs in line with Health Infrastructure Investment Policy. Any proposals for future capital investment at NGH will be considered in this context.

Health Infrastructure Investment Policy, as set out in Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF), published 2024, aims to ensure that Sláintecare reforms are achieved, improve the delivery of capital healthcare projects, and achieve value for money.

The implementation of Health Infrastructure Investment Policy via SHIF means that any future proposal for new Health Infrastructure will be centred on evidence-based demand analysis, and established on a healthcare need identified by services.