Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this item and the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond. I wish to share my time with Deputy Wall.

When the Labour Party was last in government, it sanctioned in 1996 the redevelopment of Naas General Hospital. There have been major improvements at the hospital since in all aspects of the delivery of health services to the people of County Kildare. The final phase of the redevelopment of the hospital includes the provision of two additional 31-bed wards, additional physiotherapy and occupational services facilities and a catering unit for 255 patients and 800 staff. The final phase was to commence construction in 2004 but Government funding was not forthcoming. In 2005, when the HSE sought permission to seek tenders for the project, the Government did not give the required approval. The go-ahead was given in 2007. A lengthy tender process was undertaken and late that year a tender report was forwarded to the capital section of the HSE with a recommendation on the appointment of the preferred contractor. The board of the HSE met on 14 February this year and the draft capital plan for 2008 which has been submitted to the Minister for Health and Children does not include phase 3C. The plan requires the approval of the Minister and the Department of Finance.

We have now had four years of Government promises. On Monday of this week there were 16 patients on trolleys in Naas General Hospital; on Tuesday, 31; on Wednesday, 23, and today, 21. Nobody deserves to be treated in such an undignified manner. The provision of additional hospital beds under phase 3C would eliminate this practice. I, therefore, call on the Minister to change the draft capital plan for 2008 and include the final phase of the redevelopment of Naas General Hospital.

It is obvious that the Government which is preoccupied by tribunals and an internal leadership struggle has taken its eye off the ball. The economy is floundering as a result. As usual, the people who will suffer most are those most in need. While the Government gives tax breaks to its friends for private hospitals for the rich, ordinary citizens are left on trolleys in public areas of Naas General Hospital. There seems to be plenty of money available to support the Government's rich pals.

I state clearly that the Labour Party will campaign until this decision is reversed. I call on my constituency colleagues on the Government side of the House to support my campaign and that of Deputy Wall. Before the general election last May, the Government promised that phase 3C, the final phase of the redevelopment of Naas General Hospital, would proceed. It is time to put up or shut up.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Stagg for sharing time with me to discuss this issue.

I express my sincere regret that the extension to Naas General Hospital has not been included in the draft capital plan. I recently contacted staff at the hospital about a very serious and difficult case that had occurred overseas in which I was trying to assist. I was delighted with the excellent reply I received. Recent visits to the hospital show how much the new hospital means to the patients, the staff and the general public. As my colleague has stated, it is unfortunate to see how the use of trolleys has taken away from the overall project. The loss to the area of physiotherapy and occupational therapy services is significant. County Kildare and west Wicklow have seen a significant increase in population.

This is a draft capital plan with the possibility that Naas can be included. We are asking on behalf of our constituents that the Minister and the HSE reconsider and ensure that Naas hospital is completed to allow it to develop as a hospital of excellence for the people of Kildare and west Wicklow.

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children. I thank Deputies Stagg and Wall for raising the issue.

Over recent years, considerable funding has been made available for the completion of capital projects at Naas General Hospital. In 2003, a major €75 million capital project was completed at the hospital which included four 31-bed wards; six-bed coronary care unit; four-bed intensive care unit; three operating theatres; accident and emergency and out-patient departments; radiology department; pathology department; pharmacy department; and a department of medicine for older people which included a day hospital and rehabilitation-assessment ward.

In 2007, capital funding under the accident and emergency special initiative provided a seven-place medical assessment unit and a ten-bed transit unit. A central sterile stores department is also being provided at a cost of €3.8 million.

In drawing up its capital plan, the Health Service Executive is required to prioritise the projects to be progressed within its overall capital funding allocation. The HSE has been finalising its capital plan over recent weeks on this basis. A revised draft of the plan has now been completed and has just been made available to the Department for approval in the normal way.

The draft capital plan reflects the HSE's commitments and priorities. The HSE is currently reviewing a number of options to enable it to progress further capital projects over the coming years and proposals in this regard are awaited by the Department. The capital plan will be published as a whole upon approval. It is not productive to release information about the status of individual projects in advance of that.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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If I might, Leas-Cheann Comhairle——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is quite out of order.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Is the Minister of State saying he has no say in this matter whatsoever? Is it a matter for a quango?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister of State is not in a position to respond to that.