Vol. 473 No. 3
57 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the progress, if any, made on the proposal for and planning of the Dunshaughlin polyclinic in County Meath, including the initiation of the proposal, the sanctioning and approval of the proposal, the sod turning, the various planning stages and costing and funding aspects and all other relevant steps on a date by date basis. [25053/96]
Limerick East): My Department approved the acceptance of tenders for the construction of a health care unit at Dunshaughlin in September 1996 and the building contract was signed by the North-Eastern Health Board in October 1996. I understand, from inquiries which have been made of the board, that the work is proceeding satisfactorily.
The board's proposals were developed in consultation with the Department during 1994 and 1995, and the approval to appoint a design team to commence the planning process was conveyed to the board in October 1995. The project proceeded through the various stages of planning, culminating in the board's submission of the report on the tenders in September 1996.
The building work is expected to take about 12 months and the project will then be equipped and finally commissioned in 1998. Provision for the project is included in the Department's capital programme and the total estimated cost is of the order of £3 million.
