Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Michael Moynihan for raising this matter. I am making this reply on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children.

Under the former Southern Health Board's strategy for older people, Aging with Confidence, which was published in 1999, a need for 18 additional beds for Kanturk hospital was identified. Funding was applied for under the NDP indicative funding for services for older people for the period 2000-06.

A draft design brief for the project was prepared by the HSE southern area, the former Southern Health Board, and was forwarded to the Department of Health and Children in September 2002. Approval was sought for the appointment of a design team for the project whose first task will be to identify the optimum location for the new accommodation and the feasibility of integrating it with the existing building.

A further request for approval to commence the process of selecting a design team with a view to progressing to stage two design was again submitted in March 2004.

The HSE is continuing to establish which projects can be progressed, taking account of existing commitments and overall funding resources available and having regard to the additional revenue funding and staffing which will be required for any development and in the light of the HSE's overall capital funding priorities.

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