A project team was established by the South Eastern Health Board to oversee the development of a ten bed extension at Carlow District Hospital. A planning brief has been completed and a design team was appointed to prepare the plans and specifications for the ten bed extension to the hospital. Tenders have been submitted by the board to my Department for approval to proceed to the construction stage of the project. These are being considered in the context of ongoing discussions between the board and my Department in relation to progressing individual projects under the national development plan.