Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Health when hospital management staff at Waterford University Hospital will be briefed in respect of the recently announced mobile catheterisation laboratory as to whether the unit will be made exclusively available for the use of the hospitals in the south east region; if it will be primarily utilised for reducing waiting lists or conducting emergency procedures; if it will be available to the communities of the south east on a 24/7 basis; the number of persons it is estimated that a mobile catheterisation laboratory can cater for on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5357/17]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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375. To ask the Minister for Health the current daily running costs of the catheterisation laboratory at Waterford University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5358/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together.

Budget 2017 makes specific provision for those patients waiting longest for treatment within the health service. In this context, I am considering a national cardiology waiting list initiative which will address waiting times for cardiology treatments in a number of hospitals, including University Hospital Waterford. A range of measures are envisaged including sharing of facilities and resources within and between Hospital Groups, use of private facilities and the deployment of a mobile cath lab. I have written recently to the Director General of the HSE about the proposed initiative and I expect that further details will be made available in the coming weeks.

I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to your specific queries on the operation of mobile cath labs.