Vol. 515 No. 2
58 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the outcome of the visit by a senior official from his Department to Tralee regarding the provision of a district hospital for the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5115/00]
An official from my Department, in conjunction with officials from the Southern Health Board, recently met with members of the Tralee senior citizens group and local representatives in connection with the provision of a community hospital in Tralee. The official clarified that the provision of a community hospital for older people in Tralee is a matter in the first instance for the Southern Health Board.
The need for such a facility is recognised by the Southern Health Board and it has included this project in its development plan for community hospitals. However, the board has indicated to my Department that the nature of the service to be provided by a community hospital in Tralee can only be determined after a range of other services relating to the care of older people is first put in place. These include assessment and rehabilitation units at Tralee general hospital which are now in place; community support services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy; a day hospital at Tralee general hospital which is now in planning and the provision of a replacement community hospital at Dingle. It is the intention to continue to provide financial assistance, both capital and revenue, to the Southern Health Board for the development of services for older people in its area. In this connection, capital funding to enhance services for older people is included in the national development plan. In this regard, it will be a matter for the board to determine its priorities for the development of this service in County Kerry prior to the submission of proposals to my Department.
