Vol. 508 No. 1
476 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been brought to the urgent need for a community hospital on the campus of St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, to deal with the urgent medical needs of the patients of Carlow and Kilkenny who require step down hospital care in view of the fact that this project would alleviate the pressure on existing district hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17685/99]
As envisaged in the Kilkenny hospital plan prepared by the South-Eastern Health Board, a project team has been established to progress the overall development of the St. Luke's Hospital site. My Department is represented on the project team. I understand that a draft brief for the development of a community hospital on the site is being considered by the project team. The further planning and development of this facility will be considered in the light of available capital resources and the priorities of the board in relation to its overall capital developments.
