Vol. 507 No. 4
142 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position in regard to the construction of the extended facilities at Naas Hospital, County Kildare; the company to which the contract has been awarded; the deadline for conclusion; the number of bed places now and proposed in respect of each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17188/99]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I recently granted approval to the Eastern Health Board to invite tenders for the phase two development of Naas General Hospital and while the tendering process is now under way, it will be a number of weeks before the building contract is awarded.
The Deputy will be aware that the timing for the commencement and completion of construction for the development depends on several variable factors which are difficult to assess accurately in advance and it is not possible for me, therefore, to give a precise timetable for the project. However, the design team's programme for the development anticipates a start on site in the autumn with completion of the works within two years.
The total number of beds formally approved under Article 8 of the Health Services (In-patient) Regulations, 1991, as at 25 January 1999, in Naas General Hospital is 94. On completion of the development Naas General Hospital will have a total bed complement of 189 beds including 25 day beds and 30 beds in the psychiatric unit provided under the phase one development at the hospital. The designation of hospital beds in medical, surgical and other categories is a matter for the management of the hospital concerned and is subject to service demand.
