Vol. 538 No. 3
247 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children when funding will be approved for the day-to-day running cost of extra beds provided at the Limerick Regional Hospital (details supplied) and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18148/01]
The Mid-Western Health board has received in its determination for 2001 in excess of £308 million, which includes acute hospital service development funding of approximately £3.5 million.
The question of the provision and development of services at Limerick Regional Hospital is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board, having regard to its overall priorities for the ongoing development of services in the region in the context of available funding. The question of funding the further development of acute hospital services will be considered in the context of funding available to me and the competing priorities in 2002. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to reply to the Deputy directly and to outline the present position in relation to the issues raised.
