Vol. 443 No. 3
12 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concern of members of the South-Eastern Health Board regarding the condition of St. Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan, County Waterford; and the proposals, if any, there are for a replacement hospital.
149 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to provide a new geriatric hospital in Dungarvan, County Waterford, to replace St. Joseph's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 149 together.
The South-Eastern Health Board regards the provision of a new 27 bed unit at St. Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan as a priority. I am making available a sum of £100,000 this year to the South-Eastern Health Board for the planning of this unit. The Deputies will be aware that in recent days I visited St. Joseph's to see the facilities at first hand.
Unlike some other Deputies, I appreciate what the Minister is doing for Dungarvan, County Waterford.
Thank you.
Can the Minister give me more information about the 27 bed unit to which he referred in his reply? I have not seen any press statement about the Minister's intentions in this area, but I presume it is proposed to transfer patients from the upper part of the premises to the ground level as the upper part is quite dangerous. It is a fire hazard and poses difficulties for staff and patients when they are moving around.
I have looked at the facility and share the Deputy's concerns about it. This is why I immediately approved the planning of a new 27 bed unit which will enable patients to be transferred from the upper part of the premises. The planning will cost approximately £100,000 which I have made available, and I hope to provide a capital allocation for construction as soon as possible.
Can the Minister give an approximate timescale for the completion of this unit? I greatly appreciate what he proposes to do but can he say if the work will be completed in 1995 or 1996?
I cannot give the Deputy a timescale until I have received the complete proposals from the South Eastern Health Board, which has to put this development into context with the other capital demands it will present me with for next year. Once I have discussed my bubgetary position with my Cabinet colleagues I will be in a position to know what exactly I can fund. I want the planning completed and the capital works to get underway as soon as possible. The question of when that happens will be decided in the context of the allocation of resources and priority demands.
This means that the work might drag on and may not be completed within the next year or two.
We will see.
