Vol. 566 No. 1
510 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the costs to the Midland Health Board of upgrading and centralising its telecommunications system; if this money was allocated by his Department specifically for this work or was it from the general allocation to the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12159/03]
My Department provided capital funding of €258,800 for the Midland Health Board in 2002 for upgrading its telecommunications infrastructure. It is understood that the total cost of the project was approximately €430,000 and that the Midland Health Board met the balance of the cost from its overall revenue allocation. The project involved the installation of a broadband network between the three main Midland Health Board sites, Mullingar, Tullamore and Portlaoise, as well as upgrading PBX equipment at these sites. The project provides a solid foundation for advanced ICT applications and facilitates improved access by telephone for clients of the board.
