Vol. 421 No. 5
34 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the level of grant made available for the purchase of new equipment for the following hospitals (a) Tralee General Hospital, County Kerry (b) Castlebar Hospital in County Mayo and (c) Sligo General Hospital, County Sligo; and if he has satisfied himself that Tralee Hospital is adequately funded.
The following amounts of funding were made available by my Department for the initial purchase of equipment at the three hospitals: (a) Tralee General Hospital (opened 1984): £4.8 million; (b) Castlebar Hospital, Phase I Development (opened 1989): £3.0 million; (c) Sligo General Hospital Development (opened 1991): £8.0 million.
I understand that the Southern Health Board has purchased additional equipment totalling £275,000 for Tralee General Hospital over the last three years. The provision of services and equipment at Tralee General Hospital and the determination of its annual budget is essentially a matter for the Southern Health Board.
I am satisfied that the Board determines the funding of the hospital on a fair and equitable basis.
The Board has submitted to my Department a list of equipment requirements for its hospitals including the provision of further equipment for Tralee General Hospital. This will have to be considered in the light of the many competing priority equipment requirements nationally and the resources available for this purpose.
