Vol. 572 No. 3
362 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of a new community hospital in Dingle, County Kerry; the number of beds which will be provided in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23011/03]
Responsibility for the provision of health services in County Kerry rests with the Southern Health Board. The provision of a new 72 bed community hospital in Dingle has been prioritised by the Southern Health Board under the National Development Plan 2001-2006. The design team for this project was appointed in July 2001. A grant of planning permission was issued by Kerry County Council for the project on 22 July 2002. The stage three report consisting of the scheme design and cost plan was approved by my Department in June of this year. The design team are completing the detailed design and tender documents at present. It is expected that these will be completed by the end of this year and that approval will be sought from my Department to seek tenders as early as possible in 2004.
363 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of an extension to Kenmare district hospital in Kenmare, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23012/03]
As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in the Kerry area rests with the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The Southern Health Board included a proposal to develop a 14 bed extension to Kenmare community hospital as part of its National Development Plan 2000-2006. This was scheduled to commence during the latter part of the plan. The board completed a draft accommodation brief for the project which was submitted to my Department earlier this year.
My Department is at present examining the health capital programme for 2004 and beyond to ascertain what new projects can be progressed through either planning or construction stages, taking account of existing commitments and overall funding resources available. It is in this context that my Department will continue to liaise with the Southern Health Board regarding the proposed development at Kenmare community hospital in the light of the board's overall capital funding priorities.
364 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of a new community nursing unit at Tralee General Hospital in County Kerry; the estimated cost and timescale for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23013/03]
The provision of health services in the Kerry area is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The board included a proposal to develop a 50 bed community nursing unit in Tralee as part of its National Development Plan 2000-2006 which was submitted to my Department.
A project team was established in May 2001 to progress this development. The project team has identified the preferred site for this development on land attached to Tralee General Hospital. The selected site is a three acre site, accessible from the Killerisk Road, which will allow for the community nursing unit to be developed independently from the general hospital campus.
The project team has prepared a design brief and the cost of the project is in the order of €8.5 million at a September 2002 price base date, excluding revenue costs. My Department gave approval to the appointment of a design team in February 2003. The design team has submitted the stage two report which has been approved by my Department. My Department fully appreciates the importance of progressing this development and will continue to work closely with the Southern Health Board on this project.
