andMr. Harte asked the Minister for Health what progress has been made in relation to improvements in the heating and other amenities in St. Joseph's Home, Stranorlar, County Donegal; and if the improvements so far effected will provide a greater degree of comfort for the patients in the coming winter months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stranorlar (Donegal) Home.
2.
In reply to an earlier question on this matter on 25th July last, I referred to the steps being taken to provide improved heating for the patients, pending the installation of full central heating as part of the comprehensive improvement scheme for the Home.
I understand that a total of 37 electric heaters have now been provided in apartments used for patient accommodation and that the installation by the Electricity Supply Board of a larger transformer unit to serve the Home has enabled full use to be made of these heaters, with a resultant improvement in the heating of the Home. Consideration has also been given to further measures to provide improved heating pending the installation of a permanent central heating system and it has been agreed that a skeleton system of central heating should be provided as quickly as possible. A temporary boiler has now been installed for this purpose. Work is in progress on the installation of the pipework to connect the boiler with new heating units to serve patient accommodation in the main and infirmary blocks. Delivery of these heating units is expected shortly and I am informed that the entire installation will be completed by mid-December.
I am advised that these arrangements should provide a reasonably satisfactory standard of heating in the Home until the permanent heating system is installed as part of the general improvement scheme. Meanwhile the plans for the first stage of this scheme, that is the erection of a new 98 bed single storey extension, have been completed and approved of by my Department. The draft Bills of Quantities have been recently submitted to the Department for examination. Completion of the tender documents will be expedited and the health authority should be in a position to invite tenders for the first stage of the scheme before the end of the year.