Vol. 513 No. 1
450 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children if the necessary funds will be made available to the Western Health Board for the extension to St. Francis nursing home, Newcastle, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1372/00]
The Western Health Board has advised me that the board's standing committee for older peoples services advises on priority locations for the development of new and enhanced services for older people. The overall priority at this time is the provision of a new 30-bedded rehabilitation unit on the site of Merlin Park Hospital. The board has, in recent times, established a new assessment ward for older people in University Hospital, Galway, and a second geriatrician is due to take up duty on 1 May next. In addition, in the west Galway area, the board commissioned an additional 20 long stay beds at Áras Mhic Dara in Carraroe within the past two years and work is about to commence on a new housing cum nursing unit project at Kilronan on the Aran Islands.
The board also stated that the next priority has been given to developments in Loughrea and Tuam and the board anticipates that the development of St Francis' will be prioritised on completion of these projects when the next review takes place.
