Vol. 553 No. 2
527 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made on the new community hospital for Tuam, County Galway; if he has or will make available money in 2002 to fund the design plans and other matters to enable the hospital to be built; and when he expects the hospital to open for business. [13256/02]
Responsibility for the provision of health services in the Tuam area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department approved the purchase of the former Bon Secours Hospital in Tuam, County Galway, in November 2001, for the development of a community nursing unit and other services on the site.
In the meantime, the board has established an overall management group for the development of the various services. A planning group for the community hospital and the proposed day care centre is also being established and will be requested to prepare the planning brief and bring the project to design stage. Progress on the planning and construction of the community hospital will depend on the availability of the required funding and on the priority accorded to the project by the Western Health Board.
Question No. 528 answered with Question No. 457.
