Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 2

Written Answers. - Curragh (Kildare) Hospital.

Seán Power

Ceist:

14 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Defence the changes, if any, that are planned for the General Medical Hospital at the Curragh, County Kildare; and the effects, if any, these changes will have on the families of serving personnel. [11163/96]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

Under the Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan, it is proposed that the Curragh Hospital will provide a 30 bed in-patient facility for patients who do not require surgery or significant medical treatment. The hospital will also continue its present out-patient and occupational medical services.

The out-patient facility at the Curragh Hospital has down through the years been available to the dependants of members of the Defence Forces living in married quarters in the Curragh Camp. The historical basis for this arrangement was the absence of a civilian medical practitioner in the Curragh Camp and a lack of transport to enable soldiers' dependants to obtain medical treatment outside the Curragh Camp. However, it appears that in recent years dependants of soldiers living outside the Curragh Camp were also availing of the service at an increasing rate. As a result the military authorities have proposed that the facility should be confined to persons living in married quarters in the Curragh Camp. I have directed that this proposal should not be implemented until I have had the opportunity to consider all the implications of the change, and to allow consultations with the representative associations.