Austin Deasy
Ceist:48 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will provide the finance to allow the second phase of the geriatric hospital at St. Joseph's Dungarvan, County Waterford, to proceed. [23972/98]
Written Answers. - Hospitals Building Projects.
As the Deputy will be aware, a new 27 bed nursing and rehabilitation unit at St Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan was officially opened, earlier this week, by the Minister for Health and Children. This was a replacement of old unsatisfactory accommodation.
The South-Eastern Health Board indicated to the Department in November last year that, because of fire safety fears at St Joseph's Hospital, the need to move patients from first floor accommodation was a priority. A capital grant of £400,000 was subsequently allocated to the South Eastern Health Board to bring this about, by extending and upgrading the vacated St Elizabeth's Ward. I understand that a contract has been signed and that actual work will commence very shortly. I should emphasise that this £400,000 was in addition to the £1.6 million cost of developing the new 27 bed nursing and rehabilitation unit at St Joseph's.
If the South-Eastern Health Board considers that further capital work is necessary at St Joseph's, I will consider any such request in the light of available capital resources, competing demands and the board's internal priorities.