Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospitals Building Programme.

Paul McGrath

Question:

371 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the expected expenditure on Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital in 2002; if he will compare this to the expected expenditure on Tullamore General Hospital in 2002; and the timeframe for bed occupancy in this new wing of Mullingar General Hospital. [11720/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The projects at Mullingar and Tullamore Hospitals are at different stages in their procurement cycles. It should also be noted that previous phases have been completed and commissioned at Mullingar whereas the Tullamore project involves the construction of a new hospital.

The interview stage for the appointment of a design team for the Phase 2B project at the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar is complete and the development control stage for the project is shortly to commence. When I announced approval for the project in 2001, a project cost in excess of €57.14 million, £45 million, was estimated for this phase of the development of this hospital. The expected expenditure in 2002 is €0.6 million mainly on fees.

The new wing of Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar will be ready for bed occupancy significantly in advance of the anticipated project completion date. A building ‘shell' to facilitate the future development of the hospital was included in the previous phase of development (2A) at the board's request.

The new Regional General Hospital at Tullamore is currently at tendering stage. Tenders are currently being sought from contractors to build the new hospital, the closing date for which is 16 May 2002. It would not be appropriate at this point to comment on the expected results of this tender process while tenders are awaited.

Question No. 372 answered with Question No. 366.