Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Galway Hospice In-Patient Unit.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

253 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the reason for the continuing delay in providing the necessary financial resources for the utilisation of the in-patient unit at Galway Hospice; if the difficulties which he referred to on his recent visit to Galway have been resolved; if not, the action, if any, he proposes to take; the date on which the relevant funds will be made available; the amount of such funds; the number of beds to be made available in the hospice in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16027/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The proposed utilisation of the in-patient unit at Galway Hospice has been the subject of detailed discussions between representatives of the Western Health Board and representatives of the Galway Hospice Foundation. These discussions have now reached an advanced stage and I am confident that agreement will shortly be reached on the provision of funding by the health board to enable the hospice to open the in-patient unit on a mutually acceptable basis.