Vol. 561 No. 1
120 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allow the committee of the Tralee community nursing unit to appoint the design team for the project immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/03]
It is the policy of my Department to provide new nursing units or similar facilities for older persons so that patients can access care as close as is reasonably possible to their local communities. The proposed development in Tralee will be tailored to meet the particular needs of its potential clients and will comprise of a 50 bed nursing unit, various treatment-remedial departments, and back-up administrative and services facilities. Based on the brief prepared by the project team, the most recent cost of the proposed project is of the order of €8.5 million at a September 2002 price base date. Certain revenue costs have also to be taken into account for the new facility. The capital cost of the project will be met from the national development plan.
My Department is reviewing, from a national point of view, the NDP for the health sector generally in light of the outturn position for 2002. This process involves providing for existing capital contractual commitments and commencing where possible the planning or construction of new projects nationally in 2003 or beyond. It is in this context that capital developments for the Southern Health Board region, including the proposed new unit at Tralee, are being examined. My Department fully appreciates the importance of progressing this development and will continue to liaise closely with the Southern Health Board in relation to the board's overall capital needs and priorities, with a view to appointing a design team for this project at the earliest possible date.
