Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1036. To ask the Minister for Health if the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly has received funding for an MRI scanner; and if so, when it will be installed [41740/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Currently it is expected that the project to deliver an MRI scanner and an additional ultrasound could be completed in Q2 2017.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1037. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to fund an MRI scanner for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath considering the demand and fundraising efforts being carried out [41741/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The provision of an MRI scanner for the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar is part of a project to extend the radiology department. The project is in line with the overall Development Control Plan for the hospital, which is currently being finalised. It is expected that the design team will be appointed by end January/early February 2017.

The project is currently funded to design stage only. Further funding for the next phase of development of this project is dependent on the costing and timing of the project, the availability of resources in the context of many other demands across the country, the future capital envelope for the health service and the overall priorities for future service development in the Ireland East Hospital Group. It is proposed that there will be a mid-term review of the State’s capital envelope, which will assess progress and review emerging pressures and demands. It is expected that this mid-term review will be completed in 2017.

There has been fundraising for this project by the Friends of Mullingar Hospital which I understand has raised in the region of €150,000.