Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Health Projects. – Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) – Wednesday, 13 May 1981

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan-Monaghan): asked the Minister for Health if he will give particulars of each project under the aegis of his Department which he sanctioned; and if he will state in respect of each such project; (a) the date of sanction; (b) the total amount of money involved; (c) the amount provided or allocated for work done this year; and (d) the date on which he expects work to commence.

Dr. Woods

I assume the Deputy is inquiring about capital projects and that his interest is in developments which I have announced in recent weeks. The reply to the Deputy's question it in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report. In regard to (c) of the Deputy's question I wish to say that £5,150,000 is allocated for these schemes in 1981. Many factors make it difficult to estimate with any degree of accuracy what money will be spent on each project but overall expenditure will be of the order of £5,150,000.

In regard to (d) it would not be accurate to speak about the date of commencement as in all the schemes under consideration some work of planning has been carried out. The money I have allocated will provide in each case for continuation on the road to completion.

In addition to the schemes outlined in the tabular statement I have allocated a total of £1,850,000 in the current year to health boards, voluntary hospitals and other health agencies for minor capital projects, that is for capital schemes which individually will not cost more than £50,000 and which will be totally expended in this year. I would also inform the Deputy that the projects I have referred to are additional to those which are on-going and for which a capital allocation of £40,000,000 is available this year.

Following in the statement:

Project	Date of Sanction(a)	Total* Estimated Cost(b)
Eastern Health Board area
St. Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman, Dublin —Upgrading works	23/4/81	.300
St. Ita's Hospital Portrane, Co. Dublin —Upgrading works	23/4/81	.100
—New Boiler	23/4/81	.085
Cherry Orchard Fever Hospital, Dublin —Lassa Fever Unit	23/4/81	.190
Rowlagh, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, Health Centre	23/4/81	.480
Ballybrack Health Centre, Co. Dublin	23/4/81	.500
Wicklow Health Centre & Offices	23/4/81	.800
St. Columcille's Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin —New Centre for Mental Handicap	27/3/81	6.800
Mater Hospital, Dublin —Redevelopment (Phase 1A)	6/4/81	18.000
Madonna House, St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin —Refurbishing as Psychiatric Day Centre	23/4/81	.125
Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, Dublin —X-Ray Department and equipment	23/4/81	.330
St. James's Hospital, Dublin —Redevelopment Phase 1B (Decanting, Fees) Phase 1C (Fees)	23/4/81	5.830 16.000
James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin
—Extension to Out-Patients Department	23/4/81	.035
St. Mary's School for the Blind, Merrion, Dublin —Residential Home	23/4/81	2.500
St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys, Cabra, Dublin —Residential accommodation for 100 boys	23/4/81	1.300
Midland Health Board area
County Hospital, Mullingar —120 bed extension and upgrading	28/4/81	13.000
County Hospital, Tullamore —Operating Theatre and post mortem room	28/4/81	.650
St. Fintan's Hospital, Portlaoise (Psychiatric) —Fire Alarm system	28/4/81	.080
St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar (Psychiatric) —Fire Alarm system	28/4/81	.080
Health Centre Athlone	28/4/81	.500
Sisters of Mercy Orphanage, Mt. Carmel, Moate —Fire Precautions	28/4/81	.025
Regional Orthopaedic Hospital, Croom New theatre suite	13/4/81	.540
Limerick Regional Hospital —Maternity (100 beds)	13/4/81	6.500
St. John of God Hospital, Cahercalla, Ennis —Grant for Maternity Unit	13/4/81	.500
North Eastern Health Board area
St. Oliver Plunkett, Dundalk —Replacement of County Home	30/3/81	2.750
New General Hospital, Cavan	30/3/81	15.000
St. Mary's Drumcar (Mental Handicap) —2x10 bed chalets and upgrading of St. Raphael's unit for severely handicapped adults	30/3/81	1.000
Sligo General Hospital	3/4/81	25.500
Cregg House, Sligo (Mental Handicap —conversion of existing unit to accommodate 12 extra adults
South Eastern Health Board area
General Hospital Ardkeen, Co. Waterford —Redevelopment 400 beds plus facilities	14/4/81	28.000
St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny —14 additional maternity beds	14/4/81	.250
County Hospital, Wexford —Water Supply (fire precautions)	14/4/81	.030
St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel (Psychiatric) —100 bed unit	14/4/81	2.500
Camphill Community Mental Handicap Centre, Ballytobin, Co. Kilkenny
—Residence	14/4/81	.030
Southern Health Board area
District Hospital, Listowel —30 bed extension (replacement of St. Joseph's)	24/4/81	.500
Our Lady's Hospital, Cork (Psychiatric) —Lifts & Rewiring (Fire Precautions)	24/4/81	.620
St. Finan's Hospital, Killarney (Psychiatric) —Lifts & Rewiring (Fire Precautions)	24/4/81	.500
Tralee Community Care Centre & Offices	24/4/81	.420
St. Patrick's Mental Handicap Centre, Upton —Redevelopment	6/4/81	.800
Brothers of Charity, Lota (Mental Handicap) —Therapeutic Pool	24/4/81	.042
Western Health Board area
Galway Regional Hospital —extension to Maternity Unit	23/3/81	2.600
Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway —4 new operating theatres for orthopaedic depts.	23/3/81	1.350
Castlebar General Hospital —Major Development	23/3/81	14.200
St. Joseph's Kilcornan, Co. Galway (Mental) —Development	23/3/81	.750
Western Care Association Group Home (Mental Handicap) —12 bed development Belmullet, Co. Mayo	23/3/81	.110

* Including fees furnishing and equipping.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister has given himself the benefit of both worlds, using a tabular statement and then answering the question, thus preventing supplementaries. I gather the Minister said that there is £5,150,000 provided this year. Am I correct in thinking that this includes projects in Galway, Castlebar, Sligo, Cavan, Waterford, Cork and a number of other counties?

Mr. Begley

And Kerry.

Dr. Woods

These are part of the £47 million.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan-Monaghan): The projects in which I am interested are those the Minister announced on his grand tour some time ago, projects that were not included in the £40 million in the capital programme. As I understand it, he announced them in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Cavan, Louth, Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry and probably in a number of other counties. There was £5.1 million included and there was a special function in each place to announce them.

Dr. Woods

I must explain to the Deputy once again how the capital programme works.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan-Monaghan): Very slowly.

Dr. Woods

I can appreciate the Deputy's difficulty in following the situation since in 1976, the last year for which the Coalition were responsible, £11.2 million was spent on all capital projects. This year we are spending £47 million, which enables us to develop and expand the programme which will lead directly to completion. Any of the projects which we have undertaken are phased in our capital expenditure, assuming the expenditure stays at or about the level which we have set, so the Deputy need have no fear about that aspect. I know the Deputy is concerned about some of them in particular. It is our commitment to pursue these directly to building and completion and we have provided in our ongoing capital programme to do that.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan-Monaghan): I am concerned about the whole performance as well as the one in Cavan. Am I right in thinking that most of the work the Minister has outlined in these ten or 12 counties as far as this year is concerned is invisible work and that the work which the Minister brought to a standstill in Cavan 12 months ago ensures that there will be no visible signs of progress there before well into next year?

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 May 1981