asked the Minister for Health whether it is proposed to build a new hospital in Crumlin, Dublin; and, if so, whether he will state (a) when the project was first mooted; (b) the location of the proposed hospital; (c) the number of beds to be provided; (d) the type of patient to be catered for; (e) the area to be served; (f) the total estimated cost; (g) the percentage of this amount which will be made available by his Department; (h) whether the contract has been awarded; and (i) how soon it is anticipated the work will commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Dublin Hospital.
It is proposed to build a new children's hospital at Crumlin. The late Archbishop of Dublin, Most Reverend Dr. Byrne, had the project in mind for some time and had acquired a site from Dublin Corporation before my Department was approached early in 1938 for a grant from the Hospitals Trust Fund to meet the cost of the work. The site of the proposed hospital adjoins Crumlin Road, Cooley Road and Errigal Road. Approximately 300 beds are to be provided. They will cater for surgical, medical, infants and private patients. This will be a public charitable hospital. The hospital will serve Dublin and a wider region for which Dublin is the natural centre. A number of beds, to be determined, will be reserved for patients sent to the hospital by local authorities from areas which I will in due course define for the purpose as the Dublin hospital district and the regional hospital district. The total estimated cost is between £750,000 and £800,000. A grant representing 100 per cent. of the approved costs has been approved from the Hospitals Trust Fund. Presumably a contract will be placed in the near future and the work will commence shortly afterwards.
Is the Minister in a position to give any indication of the probable length of time which will elapse before the completion of the work is expected?
I have no definite information, but I understand it is approximately from four to five years.
Was there any previous scheme before the Minister's Department to erect another private hospital and would the Minister say when that scheme was abandoned?
In relation to a children's hospital?
In relation to this particular site.
It was not Santry Court.
The Minister might mind his own Department.
This proposal is a continuation of the original one made in 1938. There was no other proposal so far as I am aware.
Does the Minister say that there is no record in his Department of another scheme having been adopted for a different type of hospital on the same site?
I am not aware of such a scheme.