Vol. 402 No. 3
129 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposals to redesignate certain units of St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin; and, if this is the case, if he will confirm that the Eastern Health Board will not proceed pending the satisfactory conclusion of all relevant negotiations on this matter with the staff representatives.
I have been informed by the Eastern Health Board that as part of its plan for the improvement of services at St. Ita's Hospital it is proposed to designate certain units at the hospital which accommodate mentally handicapped and elderly patients. The effect of this redesignation would be that the accommodation for the mentally handicapped and elderly would no longer be classified as psychiatric hospital accommodation under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945. Care programmes to meet the specific needs of these groups of patients are being developed by the board and the proposed redesignation will facilitate this process. The Eastern Health Board has also indicated that negotiations are ongoing with staff representatives regarding its proposals.
