Vol. 570 No. 4
272 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of requests he has received for capital funding from the board of Crumlin Hospital over the past 20 years; the result of these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19434/03]
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Arrangements are being made to examine the matter and I will be in touch with the Deputy again in due course. However, I would like to advise the Deputy of a number of significant capital investments at the hospital in recent years. Firstly, a major capital development at Crumlin, costing €31 million, to provide seven new operating theatres, a day ward and the upgrading of the ICU department is nearing completion. This development is designed to ensure that children on waiting lists for surgery and other procedures can access services within a reasonable period of time.
In addition, my Department gave approval in July 2002 to plan for the provision of an MRI facility at the hospital, at a total projected cost of approximately €5 million, to include electrical infrastructural upgrade and other ancillary works. In 2001, the Department approved €3.8 million for urgent priority equipment and minor works for the hospital. This bulk of this was drawn down by the hospital in 2002.
