David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last year, all Members from the south east came together to lobby the Minister on this issue as best they could. The Minister of State knows this has been longstanding issue not just in Waterford but in the south east. Unfortunately, the south east is the only primary percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI, centre, of which there are six in the State, that provides a limited nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday service. Every other centre provides a 24-hour emergency cardiac service. While we are here today rightly welcoming the announcement that a modular lab will be provided at University Hospital Waterford for a specified period of time, the ultimate goal is to ensure the south east is on a level playing field and has the same level of service as other regions.

The announcement yesterday by the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, which was reaffirmed in a letter by the Minister for Health, is that the Minister is committed to the deployment of a modular lab and that the money will be made available in the budget in October. However, a lengthy process must be gone through. I accept that there is a process, things cannot be done overnight and there are issues relating to procurement and planning issues and all of those considerations need to be dealt with. However, as Deputy Butler said, what we need is a clear timetable because there is a fear that the issue will be kicked down the road, as has happened in the past, and that the Minister, Department or somebody else will drag their feet. We need to be able to hold the Government and Minister to account. I commend the Minister for making the announcement yesterday and I commend all the Members who worked collaboratively and very hard to get this over the line but we need to know what exactly is involved in terms of procurement, planning, construction and design plans. What is the timeframe from now until delivery date? While the money may be committed in the budget, there is no reason why the planning side of it cannot happen now. It should happen today or tomorrow and not after the budget when the money is ring fenced.

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