Vol. 549 No. 1
177 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the implementation of the development plan for Naas General Hospital, County Kildare; the degree to which it is expected the project will be completed on time; the delays to date or anticipated; the proposed full extent of new facilities; the original total cost; the anticipated cost; the projected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6112/02]
Under the national development plan, a major investment package has been provided for phases 2 and 3 of the development at Naas General Hospital. Construction of phase 2 commenced on site in November 1999 and is currently reported as being 30 weeks delayed relative to the contract programme. The planned completion date is August 2002. It is anticipated that equipping and commissioning will commence prior to the planned completion date. The projected total cost to completion for phase 2 is within budget and is in the region of €60 million.
It is anticipated that phase 3 will be procured on a phased basis with construction planned for commencement in late 2002 with completion in 2004 or 2005. The estimated total cost of phase 3, at current costs, is in the region of €45 million. Projected costs can only be ascertained when a construction programme has been agreed.
The proposed full extent of the new facilities for Naas General Hospital will be in accordance with the design brief and will include main entrance concourse, administration, medical records, chaplaincy, out-patients, accident and emergency, physical, medicine, radiology, pharmacy and pathology departments, geriatric day hospital, operating and day services departments, intensive care and coronary care units, in-patients wards, geriatric rehabilitation/assessment ward, staff changing, hospital sterile supplies, central supplies and catering departments, mortuary and post mortem facilities, waste management department, on-call accommodation, and stores. Phase 3 will also provide for an additional 62 beds at the hospital.
