Vol. 484 No. 3
242 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, there are to maintain some services at the Meath, Adelaide or National Children's Hospitals after the opening of Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24; and, if so, the nature of these services. [22259/97]
As the Deputy will be aware, I asked the board of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin incorporating the National Children's Hospital to consider a phased opening of the new hospital in Tallaght with a view to ensuring that the hospital should open as soon as possible. I was therefore happy on 27 November last to be in a position to welcome the decision of the board to open the hospital on 21 June 1998.
The Deputy will be aware that a number of additional construction projects were approved earlier this year to enhance the new hospital. These include an expanded out patients department, additional car parking, and private facilities. The design and construction of these projects to a degree which would be compatible with the functioning of a major acute hospital is the main factor governing the decision regarding opening date.
The hospital is committed to ensuring that there is no diminution in the level of service it provides. Consequently, until all of the beds at the new hospital are available, 76 beds will be kept open for specific programmes at one of the base sites. It is likely that the board will decide on the particular services and location for this 76 bed unit later this month.
It is expected that all of the hospital's services will be located in Tallaght by mid 1999 at the latest. The premises which are to be vacated in June 1998 will be offered for sale once the decision on the location of the 76 bed unit is made. However, as the Deputy will be aware, my Department, with the Eastern Health Board and the hospitals concerned, is examining the health service needs of the south inner city catchment population following the transfer of the acute hospital services to Tallaght. I am determined that there will be no deficit in services following the closure of the hospitals transferring to Tallaght.
