Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I totally accept the points made by the Deputy, particularly about the €4 million being spent on private dialysis services and the €1.2 million being spent on patient transport services. The number of dialysis treatments at Tallaght Hospital has increased to more than 30,000 per year. The dialysis unit had been designed to provide 9,000 treatments per year but had to provide 13,000 per year. The remainder were provided in the aforementioned satellite dialysis units. This level of activity is more than double the national average. However, the Minister accepts that satellite dialysis units cannot manage complex medical disease cases. He is fully aware of the overcrowding in the dialysis unit at Tallaght Hospital and monitoring the position closely. The Department of Health, the HSE and the hospital are working to address the capacity issues in both the short and medium term and taking measures to improve the position. The award of contract has been approved. I will push the issue very strongly and assure the Deputy that work will continue and that developments will be closely monitored.

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