I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 57 and 58 together.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilities in the public hospital sector are available at Beaumont Hospital. Private MRI facilities are also available at the Mater Private Hospital, St. Vincent's Private Hospital and the Blackrock Clinic, Dublin. There is also a privately owned MRI facility located on the campus of Cork University Hospital which provides a service on a contract basis to the public hospital.
Figures relating to the number of MRI scans carried out in the public sector in 1997 are not routinely collected by my Department. However, I have asked the chief executive officers at Beaumont and Cork University Hospitals to forward this information to the Deputy directly, as a matter of urgency. My Department has no function in relation to private hospitals.
The Department has been aware of the need to monitor and evaluate overall MRI requirements in the public hospital service. Accordingly, an expert study of the existing arrangements for the provision in MR1 facilities nationwide and likely future demand in this area was commissioned from Professor David-Banta, an international expert in health technology assessment. Professor Banta's findings were announced last year. He identified the need to develop MR1 facilities at University College Hospital, Galway, St. James's Hospital and the new Tallaght Hospital, with the Galway location as the top priority. All three hospitals have submitted applications to my Department for the development of MR1 facilities. A timescale of three years was envisaged for the programme of enhancement for MR1 facilities at the three sites. As soon as the WI programme is completed on the basis of these recommendations the need for future MRI facilities can be examined.
I am not aware of any proposals having been submitted to my Department in relation to a mobile MR1 scanner. The Department would have to evaluate such a proposal in the context of the capacity of this facility to meet identifiable need, its ability to enable examinations to be carried out to the highest quality control parameters, appropriateness of use and cost effectiveness criteria. These factors having been considered, it would then be appropriate to make judgments as to its future role, if any, in the provision of MR1 scanning facilities in this country.
