Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 7

Written Answers. - Tallaght Hospital Project.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

66 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds for children in the Tallaght Regional Hospital; if he will give the latest position regarding discussions on the management of the new hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

152 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position on his discussions with the Adelaide Hospital in relation to the management structures of the proposed Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

155 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has for the Tallaght Hospital Development with particular reference to the incorporation therein of facilities currently provided by the Meath and Adelaide Hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 152 and 155 together.

I wish to confirm that the construction of the Tallaght Hospital is the Government's top priority in this year's Health Capital Programme and building will commence as soon as possible this year. The contract documentation provides for a construction period of 42 months from start-up date, following which there will be an equipping and commissioning period of 6 to 9 months. Before building work can commence, there are a number of phases which must be completed, and I am pleased to say that speedy progress is being made in this regard.

I recently met with the Boards of the three participating hospitals — the Meath, the Adelaide and the National Children's Hospital — and the Tallaght Hospital Board to ensure that all necessary planning and tender documentation changes are finalised as quickly as possible. I am glad to inform the House that, despite a very tight deadline of two weeks which I set for the Tallaght Hospital Board, I received on Thursday last the agreed revised functional content from the Board. I have accepted the revised functional content and I have now instructed that the necessary planning adjustments be made immediately so that the tender documentation can be finalised. In the light of this progress, I am confident that my target of a 1993 building start will be achieved.

In relation to the bed figures, the new hospital will have a total of 467 beds, 22 Accident and Emergency beds and 14 dialysis places. These figures include a provision for 40 paediatric in-patient beds, together with 23 paediatric day beds and 4 paediatric high dependency beds within a purpose-built unit designed for children's needs and separate to the standard ward accommodation of the hospital. In addition, 6 accident and emergency observation beds will be provided for children in the dedicated Paediatric Accident and Emergency Department. This level of paediatric bed provision has been agreed with the National Children's Hospital, Harcourt Street.

I have indicated to the three participating hospitals that I am anxious to have discussions with regard to the Board structure and management for the new hospital recommenced at the earliest possible date. To this end, I have secured the agreement of Professor David Kennedy and Mr. David Kingston to act as facilitators for this process and I have asked that these discussions be completed by June of this year.

The rapid progress which has been made in recent weeks in relation to the Tallaght Hospital is in no small measure due to the goodwill and commitment of the Tallaght Hospital Board and the three participating hospitals involved in the move to Tallaght and I am confident that there will be a continuation of this spirit of goodwill and co-operation.