Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 3

Written Answers. - St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane.

Michael Bell

Question:

189 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he paid a visit to St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, on 28 November 1997; his objectives in making that visit; if his objectives were met by the visit; the plans, if any, he and his Department have for development of St. Ita's; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23525/97]

Michael Bell

Question:

196 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he paid a visit to St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin on 28 November 1997; if so, his objectives in making that visit; whether his objectives were met by the visit; the plans, if any, he and his Department have for development at St Ita's; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 196 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of services at St. Ita's Hospital is administered by the Eastern Health Board. The board's current development plan in relation to the St. Ita's Hospital campus provides for the closure of old wards in the main hospital block in line with a reduction in patient numbers in the psychiatric service and mental handicap service of St. Ita's. The development plan envisages the main hospital closing as a residential facility. This will be facilitated by the provision of purpose built residential facilities in the community and on the hospital campus for residents with a mental handicap, and the transfer of long-term older psychiatric patients from the main hospital block to more modern accommodation on the hospital campus as vacancies arise.

In March 1997, the board adopted a development plan — St. Ita's Mental Handicap Service Development Programme 1997-98 — which provides for the replacement of the older facilities in the hospital by the commissioning of four community residences and two village complexes providing a total of 85 places in the community. Implementation of the plan is under way with capital funding of £650,000 and revenue funding of £625,000 being made available this year by my Department.

I recently met the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board to discuss the development of St. Ita's and the measures required to implement the remaining elements of the board's plan for the overall development of the campus. I also paid a visit to St. Ita's on 28 November 1997 to view for myself the facilities and services provided at the hospital. I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the board are fully committed to the implementation of the overall development programme which will continue in 1998.