Vol. 410 No. 2
177 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the length of time the new psychiatric unit at Naas General Hospital, County Kildare has been completed; and when it is likely that the unit will be brought into use.
The new psychiatric unit at Naas General Hospital was handed over by the building contractor to the Eastern Health Board in February 1990. The commissioning of this unit is a matter for the board in the first instance. I have made funds available to enable psychiatric services to be developed in County Kildare, including the commissioning of the psychiatric unit in Naas. I understand from the Eastern Health Board that it is the intention to commence community-based psychiatric services in mid and south Kildare in August 1991. The board are already providing a psychiatric service in north Kildare. I also understand that the Eastern Health Board plan to open the psychiatric unit later in the year.
