Vol. 483 No. 6
269 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the future of Hume Street Hospital; if the building is currently in need of refurbishment and meets with safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20958/97]
I refer the Deputy in the first instance to the statement issued by the chairman of the board of management of Hume Street Hospital at the annual general meeting of the hospital on 20 November 1997. Hume Street hospital has recently completed a strategic review of its services having regard to the development needs of dermatology services in Ireland. I understand that the hospital board of management is now developing that strategy and will be actively considering a number of options over the coming months on how to deliver services in the short and medium term to its patients. This includes the possibility that it could ultimately relocate its dermatology services to a general hospital site.
Hume Street Hospital is not a modern building and consequently requires ongoing maintenance work. The board of management has identified a priority maintenance programme for the basement area of the hospital and has sought funding for this project. The Department has allocated capital funding of £20,000 in 1997 on an interim basis to carry out essential works in the area of the hospital. An additional sum of £10,000 was also allocated to the hospital in 1997 for general health and safety improvements.
