Vol. 443 No. 8
92 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that sections of St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, are in need of painting and decorating; whether it is Government policy to allow certain sections of this hospital to become run down with a view to closure; and whether the charter for patients includes a commitment to an acceptable level of painting and decoration.
The Eastern Health Board is responsible for the provision of services at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane. My Department made additional capital funding available to the board in 1993 for redecoration and refurbishment of units on the complex of St. Ita's. The unit for the elderly has been completely refurbished over the past two years and the psychiatric services admission unit is at present undergoing extensive redecorating.
It is the policy of the Eastern Health Board to maintain 150 beds on the complex for mental handicap services. Extensive upgrading of the mental handicap service has already taken place and a further sum of £100,000 has been made available to the board this year to continue this work.
In the light of the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals on his most recent visit to the hospital, I am satisfied that maintenance work at the hospital is not being neglected while recognising that there is still scope for improvement.
