Vol. 495 No. 7
399 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children about his Department's meetings with the Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland, Clontarf, Dublin 3, in 1998 in relation to its second phase of development; if he will provide the necessary finance for this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21054/98]
The development of new facilities at the Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital, Clontarf is an important element of the overall development of rehabilitation services in North Dublin. Following the completion of the first phase of the new development in 1996, a project team comprising representatives of the hospital and officials from my Department began work on a development brief for the second phase of the work required at the hospital. The brief for the second phase of the development includes provision for: three 32 bed wards; physiotherapy and occupational therapy facilities; X-ray and out-patients departments; new kitchen and canteen; boiler room and service accommodation; and new main entrance and reception area.
The brief was submitted to my Department in December 1996 and is currently under consideration.
Officials from my Department met the secretary-manager of the hospital on 23 June 1998 to discuss this issue and it was agreed that he would meet Eastern Health Board officials to discuss the Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital's role within the health board area as a whole. I have been informed that the hospital and the health board are working together to examine a number of service options and to this end they have agreed to set up a joint working group.
I recognise the important role played by the Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital in the North Dublin hospital service and I am committed to ensuring that the hospital has the necessary infrastructure to properly fulfil its role. When my Department has been briefed on the outcome of this working group's deliberations, I will then be in a position to consider its proposals as favourably as possible within the constraints of the available resources.
