I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 35, 61, 93, 113, 144, 149, 157, and 159 together. That will give some indication of the interest in this issue and in my reply.
I have met separately with the Tallaght Hospital Board, the Tallaght Community Council and the Tallaght Regional Hospital Action Group for discussions regarding the proposed hospital project. At those meetings I reiterated the Government's commitment to the Tallaght Hospital project. It was explained that all possible funding options were being actively explored and that in this context the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group had been asked to examine the hospital needs of the area and to make recommendations on the functions, scope and scale of the proposed hospital and on possible methods of funding. The Dublin Hospital Advisory Group are currently examining these needs.
When the hospital was originally planned in the early 1980s the number of beds was based on the planning norms of the time. However, in the last ten years there has been a dramatic change in acute hospital practice, with developments in diagnostic techniques, the introduction of day surgery and new and improved treatment regimes, all leading to a significantly reduced length of stay for patients attending general hospitals. Therefore, the large number of beds originally planned would not appear to be necessary at this time.
The question of interim services in the Tallaght area will be considered in the light of the group's recommendations, which I expect to receive shortly.
Deputies will be aware that the estimated cost of the original Tallaght Hospital project was £118. It is not possible at this stage to provide estimated costings for a revised project or an out-patient facility, pending the recommendations of the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group.
The Working Group, representative of the Meath Hospital, Adelaide Hospital and National Children's Hospital, was an ad hoc committee which was set up to consider a management structure for the Tallaght Hospital and it is not intended to publish the group's report. However, I have received the report and I am actively considering the matter at present.