Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Hospital Funding.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

229 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has received an application for funding a long-stay hospital unit for the elderly at the site of Castlecomer District Hospital, Kilkenny; if he has discussed a proposal of this kind with officials of the South-Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19009/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

No proposal has been received from the South Eastern Health Board for funding a long stay hospital for the elderly at the site of the Castlecomer District Hospital, Kilkenny, in my Department.

The board plans to provide a day-care area and four additional beds, two for respite care and two for extended care, at Castlecomer. The board is also proceeding with the planning for a community hospital at the St. Luke's campus, Kilkenny. This will ultimately result in the provision of district hospital type beds for the city of Kilkenny, along with the reconfiguration of beds at Castlecomer District Hospital in relation to long-stay facilities.