Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
69 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of the promised 850 community nursing units now available following his announcement in July 2002; the hospitals in which they are available; and the number in each case. [10826/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced that 850 additional beds for community nursing units would be provided under two pilot public private partnership projects. This was to take place in 17 locations throughout the Eastern Regional Health Authority and Southern Health Board areas.
The ERHA will provide nine 50-bed CNUs, three in each of the area health boards, in the following locations: Clonskeagh Hospital, Newcastle Hospital and Tivoli Road, Dún Laoighaire in the East Coast Area Health Board; St. Joseph's Hospital, Raheny, St Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park and Swords in the Northern Area Health Board; and St. Brigid's Hospital, Crooksling, Brú Chaoimhín, Cork Street and Cherry Orchard Hospital in the South Western Area Health Board.
The SHB proposes to develop eight 50-bed CNUs in the following locations: St. Finbarr's Hospital, Farranlea Road and Ballincollig in the Cork south Lee area; St. Stephen's Hospital, Glanmire and St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Gurranbraher in the Cork north Lee area; Mount Alvernia Hospital, Mallow in the north Cork area; Bantry in the west Cork area; and Ballyard, Tralee, County Kerry.
At present these additional beds are not available. A health board or an authority must comply with the EU procurement legislation and national guidelines on PPPs in order to provide services.
The ERHA finalised a public sector benchmark project and my Department is consulting with the Department of Finance about it. The SHB is finalising its benchmark. On approval contract notices will be advertised by each of the awarding authorities in the Official Journal of the European Union. I expect that the CNUs will begin to come onstream in 2006.
