Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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27. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed new endoscopy unit at Naas hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20737/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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236. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the capital funding for the new endoscopy unit under the review of the capital plan following his meeting in April 2017 with management from Naas General Hospital, County Kildare and the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group in connection with funding for the new endoscopy unit at the hospital. [20976/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 236 together.

The project to be delivered at Naas General Hospital is more extensive than the endoscopy services department referred to. It also includes accommodation and ancillary services to support the new physical medicine, physical therapy, oncology services and day procedures departments, a duplex (rather than simplex) reverse osmosis filtration system and two lifts. All stages of capital projects, including the design and tendering processes, are subject to review to ensure that the projects deliver value for money. This includes, where possible, 'future proofing' to ensure that capital developments meet not just current standards but that provision is made for additional capacity and / or improved equipping and that these are addressed appropriately. This has resulted in a significant increase in the scope of the project and as a consequence its estimated cost.

I recently met with management of Naas Hospital to discuss their plans for increased endoscopy services facilitated by the development of a new Endoscopy Unit. Funding will be considered in the context of the future capital envelope for the health service and the overall priorities for future service development in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. It is proposed that there will be a mid-term review of the State’s capital envelope, which will assess progress, review emerging pressures and demands. It is expected that this mid-term review will be completed in 2017.