Vol. 502 No. 6
213 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will give a definitive figure for the cost of equipping, staffing and fitting out of phase 2B of Longford-Westmeath General Hospital at Mullingar, County Westmeath; if it is accurate that a sum of £11 million is required to get this phase of the hospital fully opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8977/99]
The total cost, including the equipping and fit out cost, of the Phase 2B development at the Longford/Westmeath General Hospital will depend on a review of the brief setting out the scope of the work involved and also the programme for carrying out the works. As this review has not yet taken place, it is not possible to give a breakdown of cost at this stage.
The Phase 2A development at this hospital has been completed at a capital cost of more than £10 million and I was pleased to allocate over £2 million revenue funding to enable it to be commissioned during 1998.
I have announced significant capital developments for Tullamore and Portlaoise General Hospitals, which will ensure that the general hospitals in the Midland Health Board area provide a high quality modern service, as part of an integrated and co-ordinated acute general hospital service for the region.
