Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Health when a permanent catheterisation laboratory will be in place at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50794/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services is ongoing and it is expected that the work will be completed by the end of June 2019.

The aim of the Review is to achieve the optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service.

As set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027, investment in cardiac catheterisation laboratories and other cardiac services infrastructure nationally will be informed by the outcome of the National Review.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Health when an outpatient action plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50796/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Improving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for government. This year €55 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients.

This has been increased to a total of €75 million for 2019 and as a result of this additional funding, my Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatients/day case and outpatients for 2019 before the end of this year.

Under the plan it is expected that the NTPF planned activity for Outpatient initiatives will quadruple from 10,000 first appointments in 2018 to 40,000 in 2019.

I recently met with the CEO's of all hospital groups and requested that they develop innovative proposals to address their outpatient lists in 2019.

In 2019, the NTPF and the HSE will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures.