Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 6

Written Answers. - James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

42 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to increase the amount of money allocated in respect of the upgrading of James Connolly Memorial Hospital from the figure of £8 million to a more realistic figure of £25 to £30 million in line with the funding provided to similar hospitals with similar catchments in other parts of the country, in view of the imminent development of 6,000 new houses in the Dublin 15 area and the 200,000 population; if he will sanction the inclusion of paediatric services at this hospital; if he will provide further information on the disposal of the 100 acres at the hospital which are surplus to future needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11950/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): In January 1995 the Eastern Health Board requested a meeting with me to discuss the future development needs of James Connolly Memorial Hospital and on 16 February 1995 a meeting took place between myself, the Minister of State, Deputy Currie, and a delegation from the Eastern Health Board. Having taken the views of the Eastern Health Board into account and the fact that no significant upgrading had taken place in 40 years I agreed that the hospital required major development. The board indicated that it was prepared to utilise funds from the sale of some surplus land to provide funding towards this development. On this basis, I agreed in principle to participate and match the funding being provided by the board on a £1 for £1 basis to a maximum of £8 million. The board has identified the need for a new accident and emergency department, intensive care and coronary care units and new ward accomodation and these are being addressed in the new development.

In relation to the disposal of surplus land on the James Connolly Memorial Hospital site, the Eastern Health Board has advised me that it has recently applied to Fingal County Council for a variation of the county development plan to have the land rezoned for development purposes.

This is the first major injection of funds at James Connolly Memorial Hospital since it was completed in the 1950s. A large amount of development is required and all requirements cannot be met in this initial development. The hospital will, however, have a programme of development to ensure that all areas of the hospital will be brought up to the highest standards of accommodation available in any of the other hospitals in the country. A project team is now addressing the detailed planning of the new development and the measures leading to the appointment of a design team are under way. I am happy to be associated with this major development plan for the hospital which I hope can be expedited in order that patients and staff of the hospital can enjoy top class facilities and services.