Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Health if he will prioritise funding for phase 2 of the current developments at St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44494/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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St Luke’s Hospital (SLH) Kilkenny has had a major €21m capital investment recently resulting in the development of the Susie Long Day Services Unit, Emergency Department /Acute Medical Assessment Unit, Hepatology Dept, Oncology Unit, Concourse and Education & Library Centre. The new development provides SLH with much needed additional capacity, and will support the hospital in meeting the needs of Carlow/Kilkenny and surrounding counties.

Any future capital development in SLH must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, and also within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs. Proposed developments must also be considered in the context of the establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise its services to provide optimal care to the populations it serves.

In relation to the specific query on phase two of the current development at SLH, I have asked HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.