Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 2

Written Answers. - St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

24 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he made a visit to St Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin on 28 November 1997; the objectives, if any, in making that visit; if his objectives were met by the visit; the plans, if any, he and his Department currently have for the development of St Ita's; and if he will make a statement on the situation at St Ita's. [2089/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

As the Deputy will be aware, services at St. Ita's Hospital are administered by the Eastern Health Board. The board's current development plan in relation to the St. Ita's Hospital campus provides for the closure of old wards in the main hospital block in line with a reduction in patient numbers in the psychiatric service and mental handicap service of St. Ita's. This will be facilitated by the provision of purpose built residential facilities in the community and on the hospital campus for residents with a mental handicap, and the transfer of long-term older psychiatric patients from the main hospital block to more modern accommodation on the hospital campus as vacancies arise.

I confirm that I paid a visit to St. Ita's on 28 November, 1997 to view for myself the facilities and services provided at the hospital. I have also met the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board to discuss the development of St. Ita's and the measures required to implement the remaining elements of the board's plan for the overall development of the campus. Following my visit to the hospital, the management agreed to submit proposals to me in respect of the most urgent needs for the development of mental health facilities. I will have these proposals given priority attention as soon as they have been finalised by the Eastern Health Board. Plans in respect of the development of mental handicap services have already been received and are currently being considered by my Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the board are fully committed to the implementation of the overall development programme which will continue in 1998.