James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have had a number of fake news election slogans in recent years, including "Make America Great Again" and "Take Back Control". Who would forget the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, standing beside a billboard stating he would end the scandal of hospital waiting lists? Deputy Murphy O'Mahony alluded to that promise. Enda has been and gone but the waiting lists are still here and are, in fact, worse than ever.

Naas General Hospital in my constituency serves a large hinterland of County Kildare and west County Wicklow. In September, the number of people on trolleys at the hospital fluctuated between 25 and 32, making it the most overcrowded hospital in the eastern region, including the Dublin hospitals, on a number of days in the past two months. We are disappointed that a regional hospital is more overcrowded than hospitals in the capital city.

I have raised previously with the Minister the issue of a new endoscopy unit in Naas hospital. There have been a number of false starts. The hospital, which serves a large hinterland and population, has one endoscopy unit located in a prefabricated building adjacent to the hospital building. Many promises and commitments have been made and there has been talk of a funding announcement. Every year, it is déjà vuwhen we hear yet another announcement and commitment. The hospital is still waiting. Patients are having endoscopies performed in what is effectively a prefab, which is often cold and where there is a serious lack of privacy. To be practical about the issue, the throughput and volume cannot be managed because only a single patient can be treated at one time. The hospital is crying out for a new, upgraded endoscopy unit. One has been in the pipeline for some time but it has not yet arrived. I ask the Minister to put that on his radar and take action on it.

The Lakeview psychiatric unit at Naas hospital also needs significant attention. A project has been in the pipeline for some considerable time but it has not come through. People cannot wait any longer. Almost ten years after the then Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, made a promise in 2011, we need to see action on these projects.

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