Vol. 536 No. 5
208 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the long delay in paying over a grant to Leopardstown Park Hospital which was approved some time ago; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of this delay the building of badly needed facilities at this hospital are being held up. [14745/01]
My Department approved a total grant of £2.1 million towards the development of a new 50 bed unit for older people at Leopardstown Park Hospital. This grant is payable in stages over the period of the project on foot of claims made by the hospital through the Eastern Regional Health Authority which is the normal process for grants of this type.
Recently the ERHA claimed an amount of £144,295 on behalf of the hospital from the overall grant total. My Department paid this grant to the ERHA on 12 April 2001. I have been informed by the authority that the grant has been passed on to the hospital.
I have not been informed of any such delays as alleged by the Deputy.
