Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Jul 1991

Vol. 410 No. 6

Written Answers. - Waterford Hospital.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

131 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he has received any request for permission to reopen the County and City Infirmary in Waterford as a hospital; and if not, if he will outline the procedures which require to be followed in order to do so.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The County and City Infirmary, Waterford closed in October 1987. Additional beds and support facilities were provided at Waterford Regional Hospital, Ardkeen, to cater for patients who had, up until then, been treated at the infirmary.

I am not aware of any request to reopen this hospital but the Deputy is, of course, aware that a new regional hospital is being built in Ardkeen.

The building of the new regional hospital is a major development which will provide a modern up-to-date purpose-built building geared to the needs of the 21st century. This new hospital will be providing a service in community specialities for all of County Waterford, part of County Wexford and south County Kilkenny, together with services in a number of regional specialities for the entire South-Eastern Health Board region. Approximately 120 additional beds are being provided and the contract sum for the project is in the region of £36 million. However, the final account, because of inflation and other factors, will be greater than this.