Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Ivor Callely

Question:

66 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, being made regarding the need of additional long stay nursing beds in the Dublin area; the identified needs; the progress, if any, made since May 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2828/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): With the elderly population set to rise, there is a need to provide some additional health board long-stay places and to improve existing accommodation. I announced in the summer of 1995 my commitment to a capital programme over the next few years which will improve and expand long-stay health board care facilities for the elderly in each of the eight health board areas.

The Eastern Health Board has identified the following developments as priorities in the Dublin Area — Community Nursing Units at both the Navan Road and Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital which are already under way and a further unit at South Circular Road which is expected to commence construction in the latter half of 1996. I have provided revenue funding for the Navan Road unit which has been built and should be in use in a relatively short time. Since May 1995, further progress in the provision of long-stay beds in the Dublin area has been made with the opening of a 25 bed unit for the elderly in Peamount Hospital in December, 1995.