The position is that St. Coman's Ward is in a state of disrepair. It is not up to agreed standards for hospital care. The staff work under extremely difficult conditions to provide facilities and services for the patients who frequent this medical ward. It would be in keeping with the upgrading of the hospital that funds would be provided to allow the €500,000 contract, submitted in June this year, for major refurbishment of the ward to proceed. This work would continue in conjunction with the work under way on the new accident and emergency unit and the theatres.