asked the Minister for Health if, in regard to the proposed new general hospital in Beaumont, Dublin, he will state (a) whether a site has been acquired (b) if so, the location and area of the site (c) whether planning has commenced (d) the proposed number of beds (e) the total estimated cost (f) when building will commence and (g) when it is anticipated that the hospital will be available for occupation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Hospital.
22.
Negotiations are in progress at present to obtain a site of about 35 acres at Beaumont Convalescent Home, on the acquisition of which the Sisters of Mercy have agreed in principle. Discussions on town planning and services matters are being held with Dublin Corporation.
Detailed planning cannot commence until these negotiations and discussions have been completed. It has been provisionally estimated that 500 to 600 beds will be provided on the site at a cost of about £10 million at present day prices. Having regard to recent experience, and notably that at the new hospital being built at Wilton in Cork, it is thought that the briefing and planning process and building could take between eight and nine years.
Would the Minister agree that negotiations have been going on for a considerable length of time? Is he aware that planning permission can be sought for property which the State may not own? That does not prevent the Department from seeking planning permission. The people who take over the hospital need not necessarily own the site to seek planning permission.
Many things have to be considered before the acquisition of the site is finalised, including sewerage, water supplies, entrances, and so on. Correspondence has taken place between the Department and Dublin Corporation. The information supplied by the corporation is being examined at present.
How many acres is it proposed to acquire?
Thirty five acres.
It has not been finalised?
There is an agreement in principle that they would provide it if the other things were cleared.
May I ask the Minister if this will be a general hospital, if the intention to proceed with it is firm, and if there is any possible way in which the provision of the hospital can be expedited. In other words, is there any way in which the normal long drawn out process of acquisition, planning permission and subsequent planning of the building could be telescoped? Is there any special task force at the Minister's disposal which he could assign to this proposal? I can assure him there will be widespread feelings of dismay throughout the north city at the idea that it will take eight to nine years to provide this hospital.
I can assure the Deputy that it is not a question of foot-dragging. As I have explained, the final acquisition of this site depends on a number of things, including planning permission and facilities for water and sewerage.
Are they not all there? It is a built-up area.
It is a built-up area, but whether extended facilities are required I do not know. From the advice I get, and in consultation with the corporation, it would appear that these things have to be finalised before the deal will be done with the Sisters of Mercy. The breakdown of the duration of the whole process including building is as follows. There is briefing, which will take one year. This will be undertaken by a project team comprised of the hospital authorities and the Department of Health. They will determine, in the main, the type of specialities which will go to Beaumont. It is estimated that planning will take about three years and that the actual building will take five years. It would be my desire to speed it up as quickly as possible.
In the recent case of the Wilton Hospital in Cork the time is slightly longer. It is estimated it will be about 10½ years before the actual building will be completed. There was a reason for the delay in respect of the Wilton Hospital in that it was intended to hold a competition for the appointment of an architect. I think the Deputy will appreciate that for such a major venture nine years is not an inconsiderable amount of time. I do not know how it can be speeded up because we are in the hands of professional people. So far as I am concerned I will try to ensure that there will be no conscious or unconscious dragging of feet.
If the Minister succeeds in acquiring the site, would it be possible to have temporary accommodation provided for accident and ancillary services pending the provision of the hospital itself? Failing all that, would the Minister consider appointing me as director general of the whole project? I would guarantee to have it ready for him in three years at the very outside.
If the Deputy is as good with regard to health as he was in finance, we might consider that.
Would the Minister not consider having a planning committee work in conjunction with the others so that they could work concurrently? Further, would the Minister not agree that the Jervis Street Hospital and the Richmond Hospital, which will be associated with this and which it is envisaged will be closed, are bursting at the seams? Pending all of this we are having piecemeal extensions, modernisation work and renovations that are costing a lot of money. It is ridiculous to have to contemplate a period of nine years for the building of a hospital. It should be possible to reduce this period to a reasonable time. The Minister made an announcement about this matter in November, 1974 and it should be possible in the circumstances to have the hospital within five years.
I announced it about a year ago and, even though no progress appears to have been made, I would point out that there have been consultations and letters between the Department, the Comhairle and the hospital authorities. These have not been concluded yet. I agree that Jervis Street Hospital and St. Laurence's Hospital are bursting at the seams and that this has been the case for quite a long time. It is a colossal task to try to ensure that there will be a rational plan for the city of Dublin and that is the reason we decided to have the six major hospitals in the city of Dublin. There is a lot of leeway to be made up at a colossal expense.