Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Nov 1997

Vol. 483 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

97 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, there are for the development of St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, County Dublin into a modern, acute general hospital; and his views on the proposals coming from the Eastern Health Board review group in this regard. [20662/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The development of St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, is a matter, in the first instance for the Eastern Health Board.

I have recently approved a capital grant of £475,000 for the purchase of a CT Scanner at St. Columcille's Hospital, and the necessary infrastructural work associated with the installation of the machine. I understand from the Eastern Health Board that the radiology department at St. Columcille's Hospital will be extended to accommodate the CT Scanner.

Captal grants totalling £186,000 were approved this year for the purchase of equipment at St. Columcille's Hospital. A capital grant of £300,000 was also approved towards the upgrading of electrical services.

I am satisfied that these developments will serve to significantly enhance the level of service to patients at St. Columcille's Hospital and is an indication of the Government's commitment to the continued development of acute hospital services in the south-east Dublin-east Wicklow region.

Finally, the Eastern Health Board has also submitted proposals to my Department for the further development of the radiology department and a new day services department at St. Columcille's Hospital. The submission is being examined within my Department, in consultation with the Eastern Health Bord.