Vol. 563 No. 4
438 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to approve the fitting out of the shell at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, to provide on call accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7846/03]
439 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to grant approval to the South-Eastern Health Board to proceed to fit out the 23 bed medical ward at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7847/03]
440 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to grant approval to the South-Eastern Health Board to proceed to repair the badly leaking roof at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7848/03]
441 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to appoint a design team for the second phase of the hospital development at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7849/03]
443 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will approve funding for the equipping and commissioning of the hospital development at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7851/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 to 441 inclusive, and 443 together.
With regard to equipping and commissioning of the hospital development at St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the phase one building contract is almost complete and various departments have been handed over to the board. One of the new wards, 40 beds, has already been equipped and is now in use. The equipping needs of the rest of the new building are being examined at present, and will be agreed as soon as possible.
To facilitate the completion of the building contract the board have funded the partial fitting out of the on-call accommodation. The balance of this work will be carried out as soon as possible.
With regard to the 23 bed medical ward, shelled-out area, the work carried out under the present contract is to protect the option for 23 additional medical beds. This work allows the board to complete the fit out at a future date without causing disruption to the rest of the hospital. The fit out of these beds is a matter to be considered after the primary development works at the hospital have been commissioned. The roof repairs are regarded as essential and these will be progressed as a matter of priority.
With regard to the second phase of the hospital development, I am advised that the brief for this has yet to be agreed. Following agreement on the extent of this phase the scheme will be assessed with a view to progressing it in line with identified priorities and the funding available under the remainder of the NDP.
442 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he intends to approve funding for the equipping and commissioning of the hospital development at Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7850/03]
The work to Our Lady's Hospital is divided into two phases. The first phase covers the new buildings on the Our Lady's Hospital campus and is due for completion towards the end of this year. It is anticipated that commissioning and equipping will be addressed after the buildings are handed over and in the light of the resources available to operate the new facilities.
