Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will take the questions in the order in which they were asked. Regarding cardiology services in the south east, there is a second mobile catheterisation laboratory, cath lab, in place at present and that has helped to reduce wait times for people awaiting cardiology procedures in the south east. That will remain in place for the interim. The hospital there has also been funded to increase staffing and extend the hours of the existing permanent cath lab, but it has not yet been able to do that. I am not sure if that has been due to a problem with recruitment but the funding is in place to extend the hours and increase the capacity of the existing permanent cath lab by 20%.

I understand the HSE is examining proposals for a modular build, but, as we have found out with a lot of modular builds, they can take a long time, perhaps as long as a permanent build. What is important is that in the meantime while we await the outcome of the national review we continue to have the mobile cath lab in place, thus allowing waiting times to be reduced and people to have the procedures they need-----

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