asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position of the new general hospital, Tralee, County Kerry; and when it is intended to have it fully equipped and opened.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Tralee New General Hospital.
1.
The commissioning of the new general hospital at Tralee is proceeding at full speed with the objective of admitting patients to the hospital at the earliest possible date. The necessary moneys are available to complete the equipping of the hospital this year. In this regard it is relevant that there is, for example, an approximate 11 months delivery time involved in the completion of the order for X-ray equipment.
Do I take it the Minister is saying that the hospital will open in at least 11 months?
The hospital should and will open in January 1984. There have been recent discussions between the health board and my Department. As of January 1984 — and I would certainly intend that it should be 1 January 1984 — about 310 beds out of 425 available will be brought into operation. In addition to the 310 beds there are, in addition, 50 psychiatric beds, 30 geriatric assessment beds, eight hostel beds and 12 paediatric beds, with another 15 as yet not allocated. These will be brought into operation as quickly as possible after 1 January 1984. But I might repeat that, of the 425 beds, 310 will be brought into operation. The reason for the delay after 1 January next is that, as the Deputy knows, the paediatric and orthopaedic services are new and these will be brought into operation between January and June 1984, but certainly there will be no undue delay.
I accept what the Minister says. Because of the present situation in Tralee where the county hospital at present is not in a position to cater for patients, where there are stretcher beds in corridors is the Minister aware that an undertaking had been given that the new hospital would open no later than December? Would the Minister consider the possibility of having that hospital opened by, say, September at the latest, which would create at least 450 extra jobs in our present serious unemployment climate?
A question, please. We are having speeches on both sides now on this question.
The statutory requirements of the new hospital are now being considered and finalised by the steering group, involving my Department and the Southern Health Board. The equipping group, which is also representative of the Department and the Southern Health Board, have now agreed on most of the requirements for each of the departments in the hospital. A certain amount of the equipment and furniture has already been delivered. If all of the equipment could be delivered now we would go ahead but, in terms of its being ordered — basic furniture and medical equipment — it will be the end of the year before the hospital is fully equipped. Even then we will be building a laundry and chapel in the hospital — which are provided for on the site — after we open the hospital.
A final supplementary question from Deputy McEllistrim.
How much money has been allocated this year for the equipping of the new general hospital in Tralee? I am sure the Minister realises also that £17 million has been spent to date on that general hospital and that the people of County Kerry were anxious that it would be opened by the end of this year. I would request the Minister to bring forward its opening to, say, September or October of this year, if possible, in view of the inadequacies of the——
This is repetition now. Deputy Foley asked a similar question and we could be at it all afternoon.
Just on a point of order——
That is not a point of order. The Deputy should not try to put that one over.
Then, on a point of information, is the Minister satisfied that all the equipment is now in order for this new hospital?
It is, yes.
Question No. 2.
A Cheann Comhairle, I asked how much money had been allocated for the equipping of the hospital.
All the money necessary to open the hospital on 1 January next is available and is committed. There is absolutely no delay but, no matter how fast we worked, we could not open it by September next. It will take until January 1984 and everything will be open and in operation by June 1984.