Dick Spring
Ceist:234 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reasons for the delay in approving the design team for the new community hospital in Tralee, County Kerry. [4314/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.
My Department has overall responsibility for health services under the National Development Plan 2001 to 2006. Indicative funding has been notified to the Southern Health Board for each year of the plan. It is a matter for the board to prioritise its projects under this plan. The board has advised that the development of a community nursing unit in Tralee is one of the priority projects. The project team appointed by the board has completed a draft accommodation brief for this development, which has been submitted to my Department for consideration and comment. It is expected that approval to advance to the next stage of the development will issue to the Southern Health Board shortly.