Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response and it is good to know this has been an important part of the Department of Health's application to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for its consideration as part of the critical capital plan. For me, that is about all the different parts of infrastructure in this country that we will develop for the betterment of citizens. There are many cases where it makes economic sense to spend money on infrastructure that will lead to savings and this is a perfect case in point. It is about developing and expending the endoscopy unit at Naas General Hospital and the hospital grouping of which Naas is a part. The group has identified efficiencies and Tallaght hospital is currently renting rooms at the Beacon Hospital for endoscopic services. If this unit at Naas was completed, the group could use it instead and generate savings for the group as a whole. St. James's Hospital would also use Naas for urology services. The completion of this new unit and extension would secure the future of Naas hospital as a key strategic part of the group. It is very important to the people of Kildare and west Wicklow but it is important we solidify its base within the group as a whole for the future.

I wish the Minister of State well in his new role with responsibility for mental health and older people. I look forward to him visiting Naas and Kildare, where there is a large population of older people because of the large number of nursing homes in our county. That is because of our close proximity to Dublin. Similarly, we have one of the youngest populations in the country and our mental health services are not fit for purpose. The former Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy McEntee, visited us recently and we have received an allocation for the expansion of the Lakeview unit at Naas hospital.

There is potential for further expansion. I know the Minister of State if aware, as we discussed it previously and will explore it further, of the need to ensure that Lakeview mental health services are fit for purpose for the next generation because they do not have the capacity currently to meet the significant demand in Kildare. That, along with the endoscopy unit, is a vital investment we need to see in our health services in Kildare. I look forward to working with the Minister of State and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on it into the future.

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