Vol. 321 No. 11
asked the Minister for Health the present position in relation to the future development of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin, the current timetable for that development, if he will clarify the uncertainty in the area regarding its future and if he will make a statement on the matter.
25.
asked the Minister for Health the present position in relation to the future proposals for development of the Royal City of Dublin Hospital in Baggot Street, Dublin and the role envisaged for the hospital over the next five years.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital and the Royal City of Dublin Hospital are two of the Federated Dublin Voluntary Hospitals which will transfer their services to St. James's Hospital when the development of that hospital is completed in about eight years' time. In the meantime, the two hospitals will continue to provide services at present.
Both of the questions asked whether the Minister could indicate what the future role of the two hospital buildings would be. Question No. 24 refers to the uncertainty regarding the future of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital.
I will read the question to clarify the matter. It is to ask the Minister for Health the position in relation to the future development of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin, the current timetable for that development, if he will clarify the uncertainy in the area regarding its future and if he will make a statement on the matter. In that connection I said that Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital is one of the federated Dublin voluntary hospitals which will transfer its services to St. James's Hospital when the development of that hospital is completed. That is their medium term plan and the direction in which the hospital is going.
To clarify the situation further, Question No. 25 asks the Minister for Health the present position in relation to the future proposals for development of the Royal City of Dublin Hospital in Baggot Street, Dublin, and the role envisaged for the hospital over the next five years. The people in this hospital and others are anxious to know, as are the people in the immediate neighbourhood, the future role of the hospital buildings when they are vacated on the long promised construction——
The Chair cannot read that into the questions.
It is the future development of the hospital.
There is no question of buildings in either question.
The development of the hospital is into St. James's Hospital.
That is hospital personnel.
It is a matter for the hospitals what they do with their buildings.
Entirely for the hospitals?
I presume they would do it in consultation with any authorities they would be co-operating with.
26.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby approximately 50 per cent of the architectural staff involved in the design of the new hospital at St. James, Dublin 8 have been made redundant as a result of cut-backs in expenditure and the postponment of much of the hospital development programme and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My responsibility in respect of the St. James's Hospital project relates to the provision of the hospital and does not extend to the clinical science building or the dental hospital which will be part of the development.
While I am aware that the deferment of some planning of the hospital project has affected architectural staffing levels I do not have details regarding the staffing position. The deferment of planning of the hospital had arisen mainly because of difficulties regarding the acquisition of a site for a section of the development and in relation to planning objections to the location of the boilerhouse. It is expected that these difficulties will be resolved shortly. The present constraints on public expenditure had not a very significant effect on the situation.
What allocation was made this year towards the project?
If the Deputy puts down a question about that I will give him the information. The development of the hospital is going ahead. A problem arose regarding acquisition of the garden hill site at the hospital. There were planning objections by various bodies. In relation to the development of the hospital, that will go ahead later this year.
In eight years' time?
No. The full, total, final development of the overall hospital and all facilities will be completed in eight years' time.
Are we to infer from the Ministers' original reply that he is not in a position to tell the House what allocation was made this year towards the new hospital project at St. James's?
That was not in the question.
It is in the reply.
St. James's Hospital will involve a redevelopment of the existing hospital and will comprise 720 acute beds and supporting facilities. The estimated cost, exclusive of the clinical science building and dental hospital, is £29.9 million at 1980 prices.
The question I asked was about the allocation this year.
If the Deputy puts down a question in relation to that I will give him the information. All I can say is that the development of the hospital is commencing this year.
The Minister cannot say what allocation has been made?
I do not have the relevant details with me. The details I have relate to the questions that were asked.
