Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2004
660 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if stage III of the planning process for the 50-bed community nursing unit, Tralee, County Kerry, has now been completed; when work will commence on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1318/04]
View answerThe 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 the 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 design team has completed the stage three report, which was submitted by the Southern Health Board on the 23 December 2003. My Department is currently examining the submission and will continue to work with the board in progressing this project in line with the board's priorities and funding resources available.
