asked the Minister for Health what the present position is regarding the projected Elm Park Hospital which is intended to replace St. Vincent's Hospital; how much has been spent on this project to date; how much it will cost when completed; when work is likely to commence; and if he will give the reasons for the delay in proceeding with the project.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Elm Park Hospital.
4.
The reason why it has not been possible to allow the undertaking of the new St. Vincent's Hospital scheme and other hospital building works which were approved many years ago is that the projects have had to be deferred because of the critical position of the Hospitals Trust Fund which developed following the general financial difficulties of some years back.
The measures taken to restore the solvency of the Fund, which have been assisted greatly by the welcome improvement in the income from Sweepstakes, are proving to be quite successful. The position has not yet been reached, however, which would permit of a general resumption of hospital building activity on a large scale. My problem is to determine which projects, of the large number for which there are commitments, can be allowed to take precedence over the remainder. The position is complicated by the fact that four of the schemes which were deferred involve large-scale expenditure and it is clear that these four projects cannot be allowed to proceed at the same time. Another difficulty is that each major project which is undertaken means the deferment of many smaller but nevertheless urgent works.
I have already sanctioned the commencement, as soon as planning has been finalised, of the new Coombe Maternity Hospital project. With regard to the new St. Vincent's Hospital and the other large-scale projects, I am keeping the situation under review but I cannot yet state definitely the actual date when it will be possible to allow those major works to proceed.
The amount spent to date from the Hospitals Trust Fund in connection with the new St. Vincent's Hospital scheme totals £176,791. In addition, £52,316 has been contributed by the hospital authorities—representing the amounts realised through the sale of investments financed from moneys made available originally to the hospital authorities from Sweepstake sources.
In so far as the final cost of the scheme is concerned, it is not possible at this stage to give any precise estimate. A reliable estimate could only be given when actual tenders would be available on the basis of a full planned scheme.