Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, is strongly committed to supporting services for patients with cystic fibrosis. To this end, he has set out a policy, whereby sufficient inpatient beds must be available to treat all persons with cystic fibrosis when they require hospitalisation. Cork University Hospital has the second largest adult cystic fibrosis centre in Ireland. The centre caters for the needs of 145 adult patients from the Munster region. In September 2007 Dr. Barry Plant was appointed as the director of the adult cystic fibrosis programme at Cork University Hospital. In June 2008, in consultation with the cystic fibrosis multidisciplinary team and the cystic fibrosis community locally, he submitted a statement of need for cystic fibrosis services to the executive management board of Cork University Hospital. This document which was approved by the board outlined a strategic plan to develop cystic fibrosis services in the hospital, including the provision of day and inpatient facilities.

Dr. Plant is working with the executive management board of Cork University Hospital to develop a designated inpatient unit with en suite rooms for cystic fibrosis patients. A location has been identified for a combined designated adult inpatient facility and respiratory unit in a vacated ward on the Cork University Hospital campus. Provisional plans and costings have been made, with an estimated build cost of approximately €3 million. Some €2 million has been collected by the charity mentioned by the Deputy, Build4Life, towards the cost of the facility. Build4Life has done Trojan work in this area and the HSE is examining ways to secure additional capital funding to complete the unit. The need to develop the adult inpatient facility remains a priority for Cork University Hospital and the HSE, both of which will continue to work with Build4Life to complete the project.

The Build4Life group has submitted a grant application to the Department of Health for national lottery funding of €300,000 to help to build the inpatient cystic fibrosis unit. This is one of a large number of applications being assessed by the Department. It would not be correct to say the group recently failed in its grant application. In fact, no decision has yet been reached on the group's request for funding. The Minister will make a decision as soon as possible, having regard to the various applications submitted for many other good projects. The Department will ensure Build4Life is informed of the outcome in a timely manner. The Minister is happy to reiterate his continuing commitment to developing services for people with cystic fibrosis and working with the organisations representing them to ensure the best possible service can be delivered within the resources available.

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