Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

983 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress in providing a home for the elderly at St. Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny; if the SEHB has a plan for such a project; if so, the cost of the plan; if the funding is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15831/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The provision of health services in Kilkenny is a matter for the South Eastern Health Board in the first instance. It is understood from the South Eastern Health Board that it is in the process of completing a planning brief for the first phase of the community hospital at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. The community hospital will provide respite, step down, convalescent and some intermediate to long stay beds to meet the needs of Kilkenny city. It is intended in the first phase to include a day hospital for the elderly, a 29 bed rehabilitation-young disabled ward, a ten bed elderly assessment unit and a rehabilitation therapy unit.

The board has advised that it is actively exploring further options as an interim solution to provide additional long stay beds in the city. A brief is being prepared on both capital and revenue requirements and will be submitted to the Department as part of the board's 2003 service development proposals. The proposal to provide extended care beds in St. Canice's Hospital is contained in this brief.

It is a matter for the board to consider these projects in the context of the €18.797 million indicative funding notified under the national development plan and the additional revenue allocation of €8.65 million provided to further develop services in the region during 2002.