Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Liz McManus

Question:

207 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give a progress report on Nenagh hospital following the allocation of £5 million for the provision of new facilities; the amount of money, if any, spent to date on this project; and the ways in which it was spent. [11367/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

There are three aspects to the capital developments for Nenagh General Hospital which I announced last year.

I allocated £1 million to extend the hospital to enable it to accommodate the existing beds more comfortably as well as providing for extensive refurbishment of the wards, including bathroom facilities. I understand that architects have been appointed for this project and a planning brief is now agreed and finalised.

I allocated £3 million for the development of a 22-bed acute psychiatric unit on the hospital site and a full design team has been appointed for this project. This design team is currently working on stage two of the planning and design process which involves the preparation of preliminary design drawings in particular.

I have also approved a new health centre to provide a wide range of primary health services on the hospital site and I understand that a planning team has been appointed for this project. The total cost of the project will be £1.5 million. A revised brief has been agreed and preliminary sketch plans have been circulated for agreement.

Capital grants will be made available by my Department to the Mid-Western Health Board in respect of these projects as the liabilities mature for payment. The total amount paid to date is £13,158 in respect of the health centre.