James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm a recent report (details supplied) that a €500,000 medical CT scanner is in storage behind a filling station in Monaghan while a leaded room for the CT scanner in Monaghan Hospital remains empty and radiographers and trained nurses are available in Monaghan to use the scanner but the Health Service Executive, despite promises since 2004, has not made a decision on what to do with the scanner, even though it is costing €600 a week to store the scanner; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the average cost of hiring a private ambulance and nurse for a patient from Monaghan to go to Cavan Hospital for a scan is €748 per patient; her views on whether this is a sensible use of scarce resources in the current climate of cutbacks and cost savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15063/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.