Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospitals Building Programme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

171 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in regard to the Naas Hospital development programme; if moneys and progress on the works to date are on schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18756/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I have made inquiries into the matter raised by the Deputy and I understand that phase two of the development at Naas General Hospital commenced on site in November 1999. Funding for the development is provided for under the national development plan. I have been informed that the project is three weeks behind programme due primarily to the lack of an adequate number of site operatives to maintain progress in accordance with the programme. Phase two is programmed for completion in two stages. Stage one, the major element of phase two, is programmed for completion in November 2001 and stage two is programmed for completion in July 2002.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

172 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which the capital programme is capable of upgrading facilities in all public hospitals, whether general medicine, paediatric or geriatric; if he has satisfied himself with the extent to which such hospitals have been modernised in recent times; the plans he has to accelerate the hospital improvement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18757/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

My Department's capital programme, which was recently incorporated in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, will allow unprecedented development of all areas of the health service infrastructure, including the acute hospital care programme. This is the first time that a national development plan, NDP, has included the health services to any significant extent. The total £2 billion provided under the NDP for the years 2000-06 represents almost a trebling of capital investment compared to the previous seven year period. This sum is expressed at 1999 prices and it is expected that it will be subject to inflation over the life of the plan.

Significant progress has taken place in recent times in relation to capital developments in the acute hospital sector. These include the opening of a new hospital at Tallaght and the completion of major developments at St. Lukes/Anne's, Limerick Regional Hospital, phases I and II, and UCHG, phase I.

Major building programmes are currently under way or expected to commence in the near future at a number of sites, including Mayo General Hospital, phase II, St. Joseph's Hospital Clonmel, St. James's Hospital, phase IH, UCHG, phase II, Naas, phase II, Ennis General Hospital, and Cork University Hospital. In addition, a number of major acute hospital projects are expected to materialise under the plan including new developments at St. Vincent's, Elm Park; the Mater Hospital; James Connolly Memorial Hospital; Portlaoise, Tullamore, Cashel, etc.

The investment being made in acute hospitals under the national development plan will ensure a new level of facilities for patients and hospital staff alike. This will range from new facilities to major upgradings, including where appropriate re-equipping and refurbishment programmes. All health boards will receive major investment for acute hospitals within their areas, including works for backlog of maintenance, fire precautions and health and safety.

In planning for the NDP for the acute hospital sector, I have placed particular emphasis on more efficient integration of services to underpin, for example, the report of the waiting list review, the national cancer strategy, and the report of the cardiovascular strategy group.