Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

439 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the refurbishment and development plans for St. Ita's Psychiatric Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin, in view of the level of complaints from constituents regarding this facility; and the timeframe in this regard. [17511/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The Eastern Health Board is responsible for the delivery of health services, including mental health services in its catchment area. In June, 1998, the board adopted the report "Proposals for the Future of St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane" which outlines refurbishment and development plans for the hospital.

Towards the end of 1998, I announced a development plan for the intellectual disability services in St. Ita's Hospital. The plan is jointly funded by the Eastern Health Board and my Department at a cost of £13 million. The board has appointed a project manager to co-ordinate and plan all new developments. A detailed audit of the existing buildings is being carried out at present together with an assessment of the future needs of the mental health services on this campus.

The development plan provides for the transfer of clients to a number of new residential complexes off the St. Ita's campus and the development of new day and residential facilities on the campus, together with the refurbishment of existing facilities for the clients remaining. Building work in relation to the new residential and day complex in Oldtown, County Dublin will be completed towards the end of 1999. A design team has now been appointed for the development of residential and day services on the St. Ita's campus and £500,000 has been allocated towards the costs associated with this development in 1999.

As far as the mental health component of St. Ita's service is concerned, I provided a capital grant of £550,000 to enable a major refurbishment of the acute admission units at the hospital to be undertaken. This work is scheduled for completion at the end of October 1999. It is intended that the admission facilities at St. Ita's will be replaced by an acute psychiatric unit – 60 beds – at Beaumont Hospital which is currently being planned. The upgraded units at St. Ita's will then be used to meet other service needs.

Significant resources have been made available over the past number of years by way of capital funding to upgrade and equip facilities on the hospital campus. In allocating these resources priority has been given to direct patient care areas, i.e., residential accommodation and day service facilities.