Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Health his strategy for dealing with the ongoing capacity difficulties at Letterkenny University Hospital whereby full capacity protocols have been exercised throughout 2017; his winter strategy for the hospital and the expected increase in demand for services; the way in which his Department plans to deal with these issues; the additional resources he plans to provide; the extra bed capacity he plans to introduce in order to deal with this ongoing crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48094/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to acknowledge the distress for patients and their families, and the impact on staff, caused by cramped and overcrowded conditions in some of our hospital Emergency Departments (EDs). ED overcrowding, and long patient waiting times for emergency care, are of critical concern within the health service and tackling this issue remains a key priority for my Department. As such I am delighted that €40 million in additional funding in 2017 has been made available as part of the 2018 Budget to address winter pressures and waiting lists over the rest of this year.

In relation to these particular queries raised in relation to Letterkenny University Hospital, as they are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to significantly increase capacity at Tallaght Hospital to meet the increase in population and the increase in the age of the population in the catchment area of Tallaght Hospital over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47975/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Tallaght Hospital recently provided my Department with an overview of the major capital projects that are in progress and the major capital projects that are planned at the hospital.

Future capital investment in hospitals must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the hospital groups and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs, having regard to the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place.

In addition, work on the Health Service Capacity Review is progressing. The review will have a wider scope than previous exercises and will examine key elements of primary and community care infrastructure in addition to hospital facilities including Tallaght Hospital. As part of the review process, my Department has commissioned external consultants to provide technical, analytical and engagement expertise. A Steering Group is overseeing the project and an independent international peer review group is involved in ongoing review and validation of the methodology and approach. My Department has also undertaken a public consultation process to ensure that stakeholder views are fed into the process.

The findings from the Review will provide a basis for determining both the extent of capacity requirements over the next 15 years and the type of capacity that is needed at a national and regional level. The emerging findings from the review will inform the development of a new 10 year national capital plan later this year. The final report will be published before the end of the year.