Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Health Centres.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

500 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the redevelopment of Millbrook Lawns Health Centre; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of this community facility and the conditions staff and the public are forced to tolerate; if he has raised the matter with the Eastern Regional Health Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25525/03]

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

501 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children if the review of the capital requirements for the ERHA included the need to redevelop Millbrook Lawns Health Centre; and if funding will be made available for its redevelopment. [25526/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together.

The provision of health centres to meet the needs of local communities and the maintenance and upgrading of such centres within its functional area is a matter for the relevant health board or the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA. In the case of Millbrook Lawns Health Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24, this responsibility rests with the ERHA.

I have been in contact with the ERHA which has informed me that Millbrook Lawns Health Centre currently provides a comprehensive range of services, including public health nursing, development clinics, dental, speech and language therapy, community welfare, home help, social work and addiction services. Pre-school services are also provided from this centre.

A number of improvements have been made to the health centre since 1999, including the internal and external painting of the premises. Additional offices have been provided for use by community welfare and Barnados. The fire alarm system has been upgraded and the ceiling has been substantially improved. The speech and language therapy service has been relocated to a different area within the centre. Essential health and safety improvements have been made in the last year. Improvements to the electrical system have also been carried out. A health and safety audit, conducted in November 2002, noted significant improvements since the previous inspection and further recommendations from this recent audit are being actively addressed. It is planned to relocate the addiction services before the end of 2003. The authority has informed me that it will continue to ensure that the conditions in the existing heath centre are maintained to the highest standard possible for the effective delivery of services.

Further redevelopment of the centre is a priority capital project for the ERHA. My Department fully appreciates the importance of progressing such developments and will continue to work closely with the authority in relation to prioritising its overall capital needs in line with the funding resources available to my Department.