Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
769 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to the extension to Kenmare District Hospital in Kenmare, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21511/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in the Kerry area rests with the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The Southern Health Board included a proposal to develop a 14 bed extension to Kenmare Community Hospital as part of its National Development Plan 2000-2006. This was scheduled to commence during the latter part of the plan. The board completed a draft accommodation brief for the project which has been submitted to my Department.
My Department is at present examining the health capital programme to ascertain what new projects can be progressed through either planning or construction stages, taking account of existing commitments and overall funding resources available. It is in this context that my Department will continue to liaise with the Southern Health Board regarding the proposed development at Kenmare Community Hospital in the light of the board's overall capital funding priorities.
770 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposed new community hospital for Dingle, County Kerry; if a site has been acquired for same and the necessary funding provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21512/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra805 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will release funding to allow for the provision of the new Dingle Community Hospital, Dingle, County Kerry, to proceed to tender stage; the reason there is a delay in this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21709/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 770 and 805 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the provision of health services in the Kerry area is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. Accordingly, the appointment of contractors for the building of the proposed new Dingle Hospital is a matter for the Southern Health Board.
My Department has received submissions in relation to stages four and five of the project. An advertisement was placed in the EU Journal from which a list of suitable contractors has been selected for the development of a new hospital in Dingle and these are being examined in my Department at present with a view to allowing the scheme to proceed.
The next step of progressing the Dingle project to construction is to arrange for the submission of tenders. This is being considered by my Department in conjunction with the Southern Health Board and in line with the board's priorities and funding resources available.
771 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposed new community hospital for Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21513/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in the Kerry area is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The board included a proposal to develop a 50-bed community nursing unit in Tralee as part of its National Development Plan 2000-2006 which was submitted to my Department.
A project team was established in May 2001 to progress this development. The project team has identified the preferred site for this development on land attached to Tralee General Hospital. The selected site is a three acre site, accessible from the Killerisk Road, which will allow for the community nursing unit to be developed independently from the general hospital campus.
The design team completed the stage three report, which was submitted by the Southern Health Board on 23 December 2003 and was approved by my Department in February 2004. My Department will continue to work with the board in progressing this project in line with the board's priorities and funding resources available. The SHB has informed my Department that the development is subject to a third party planning appeal and a decision is expected from An Bord Pleanála in October 2004.
