Vol. 554 No. 5
1218 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the delay in opening the new long-term care facility for the elderly in Maynooth, County Kildare; if the problem in staffing the facility is not as a result of cutbacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17447/02]
The provision of health services in County Kildare is a matter for the South-Western Area Health Board operating under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
My Department has made enquiries from the authority which advises that the South Western Area Health Board is in a position as and from this week, 7 October 2002, to commence admission of long stay patients, and it plans to have nine admitted by the end of this week. The authority also informed my Department that it is currently in the process of arranging an open day for interviewing nursing staff, which will take place on 24 October 2002. Arrangements are also in place for the recruitment of other disciplines, that is, care attendants-catering staff.
