Vol. 512 No. 7
60 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the hostel for those suffering from psychiatric illness in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, is opened without further delay; the expenditure incurred to date in the provision of this hostel; and the reason for the delay in it being commissioned. [27087/99]
140 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the hostel for those suffering from psychiatric illness in Edgeworthstown, County Longford, is opened without further delay; the expenditure incurred to date in the provision of this hostel; and the reason for the delay in its being commissioned. [27180/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 140 together.
I understand from the Midland Health Board that the property in question at Edgeworthstown, County Longford, was acquired in October 1996 by Aontacht Phobail Teoranta, a company controlled by the Midland Health Board, at a total cost of £130,974. The cost of renovating and fitting out the accommodation amounted to £58,000. The annual rent for the property payable by the board to APT is £2,400 and the annual upkeep costs in the region of £3,000.
The property was acquired in the context of ward closures in St. Loman's hospital, Mullingar and the need to provide improved community-based accommodation for psychiatric patients. Despite the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission, no agreement has been reached to date between the board and the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland on the staffing levels at the new facility and for this reason it has not yet been opened. I understand that the board has put new proposals to the union side for consideration and is currently awaiting a response.
