‘MRI scanner at St Luke’s will definitely be built this year’ – Minister Phelan

THE long-awaited MRI scanner for St Luke’s General Hospital will be built this year, Minister and local TD John Paul Phelan insisted today.

This week the Chairman of the Friends of St Luke’s, Declan McCann, expressed his frustration at the ongoing delays in the project in spite of the €250,000 the group has raised for the machine.

Speaking on KCLR, Mr McCann questioned if the group needed to re-allocate the funds to another project.

However, Minister Phelan today stressed the MRI scanner for St Luke’s is part of the 2019 HSE Capital Plan and that he has received new assurances it will be built this year.

Minister Phelan told KilkennyNow.ie: “The MRI is budgeted for in the 2019 HSE Capital Plan. Chief Executive, Dr Mary Dea, has confirmed to me that it will be built and that a senior architect is designing the building.”

The Kilkenny TD said he is “as frustrated as anyone” with the delays on the MRI scanner project.

“It’s now two years since the Friends of St Luke’s reached their fundraising goal of €250,000. We are extremely fortunate to have such a fundraising group working on behalf of the people who use this hospital. I was with Minister Harris [pictured below] when he visited the hospital in July of last year and confirmed that the additional €1.25 million was available to make it a reality,” Minster Phelan said.

“St Luke’s is a building which dates back to the 1950s. Site surveys indicated that an appreciable amount of existing building services will have to be rerouted prior to the building works commencing. The electrical infrastructure system will also require to be upgraded.

“Despite some comments to the contrary, funding has been included in the 2019 Capital Plan to commence these works.”