Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Health the status of funding for improvement works at University Hospital Kerry (details supplied). [5015/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Between 2007 and 2015, nearly €15m capital has been invested in University Hospital Kerry. This includes projects which delivered a new emergency department, new endoscopy department and operating theatre air handling and chiller replacement, enhancement to the operating theatre electrical back-up power supplies, operating theatre changing rooms, and minor environmental upgrades to operating theatre corridor and theatre suites. The HSE, in its 2016 National Service Plan (at Appendix 4 Page 135), states that the blood sciences project which involves the extension and refurbishment of pathology laboratory will be completed and operational by end 2016. The estimated cost is €0.7m An agreed rolling plan is being put in place to address further infrastructure needs including the project referred to and associated costs.

There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the health care infrastructure, including University Hospital Kerry, must be considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. Any future investment must also be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme and 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. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.