Vol. 450 No. 8
71 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to raise funding for a development programme at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin 15; if the sale of assets adverted to in his recent statement refers to land sales; the amount of land involved; the location of such land; if the land is intended for residential or other development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5840/95]
Limerick East): A development review group comprising of officers from the Department of Health and the Eastern Health Board was established in 1994 to review the development needs of James Connolly Memorial Hospital. The review group has recommended that the present accommodation should be significantly upgraded and has prepared a planning brief for the future development of the hospital.
I met a delegation from the Eastern Health Board regarding James Connolly Memorial Hospital and having taken the views of the health board into account I agreed that the hospital requires major upgrading and development at a cost of approximately £8 million. The health board indicated that it is prepared to utilise funds from the sale of some of the board's assets in order to provide funding towards this development. On this basis I agreed in principle that I will match such funds on a £1 for £1 basis.
James Connolly Memorial Hospital has land assets surplus to its needs and it is proposed to dispose of a portion of these lands to part fund the development. No decision has yet been made regarding the amount or location of land to be sold. A project team is being appointed to progress the development and it will be one of the functions of this team to examine all available options having regard to the overall needs of the hospital.
