Tony Gregory
Question:122 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures in place to provide post-mortem facilities for persons with the AIDS virus who were long-term patients of the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7. [25324/98]
Written Answers - Post-Mortem Services.
I have had inquiries made of the Mater Hospital authorities regarding this matter and I have been advised that the hospital does not at present have the necessary facilities to carry out post-mortems on deceased persons with the AIDS virus. They have further stated that this service is not required very often but on those occasions when it is required, the hospital has been able to avail of the service at other local hospitals.
The hospital's management has also advised me that it would cost in the region of £350,000 to refurbish its existing mortuary facilities. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the upgrading of the hospital's mortuary facilities is included in its major development project. I approved the development of Phase 1 of this project in November 1997, at a cost limit of £25 million. The development control plan for Phase 1 is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. I would hope that the detailed planning of Phase 1 will be completed by 1999 and that construction work would proceed without delay.