Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the issues raised by Senator Wilson. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting a delegation of local authority members drawn from the same political interest as Senator Wilson on this very issue in Monaghan town. I agree that it is of the utmost importance that we ensure all necessary services can be provided at Monaghan General Hospital.

On 28 September this year, the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, met with the North Eastern Health Board. The Minister was briefed on the progress made by the steering group which was established by the board to oversee the reconfiguration of hospital services across the Cavan and Monaghan group. I am pleased to say the report of the steering group was published last Friday, 22 October 2004, so Senator Wilson has raised this issue at an opportune time.

Arising from the meeting with the then Minister, Deputy Martin, the position in regard to the reconfiguration of services at the two hospitals is as follows: the board proposes to recruit five additional non-consultant hospital doctors to facilitate the early restoration of 24 hour, seven-day medical cover to Monaghan General Hospital at an estimated additional revenue cost of £500,000 in a full year. My Department is advised that the recruitment process is under way and it is anticipated by the board that these staff will be in place in early 2005.

Work has commenced on the development of an expanded treatment room at Monaghan General Hospital. The Department has approved capital funding of €750,000 for this purpose. It is estimated by the board that the project will be completed in a timeframe of 16 weeks. The board has advised the Department that the additional full-year revenue funding required to commission this expanded facility is in the region of €830,000. This submission is under consideration within my Department. I am aware Senator Wilson raised this issue with the Minister today.

The Department has approved revenue funding of €500,000 to commission ten additional day beds at Monaghan General Hospital. These beds are designed to facilitate the development of surgical services across the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group. The commissioning of these beds is to be progressed by the board.

The Department has given financial clearance for the recruitment of three replacement consultant surgical posts to facilitate the development of surgical services across the Cavan and Monaghan hospital group. Detailed applications in respect of these posts have been submitted by the board to Comhairle na nOspidéal for approval.

In recent days, the board has submitted details of the revenue funding and staffing required to commission an additional 19 beds at Cavan General Hospital as part of the reconfiguration of services across the group. This submission is now being examined by the Department. The development consists of the provision of an additional 15 medical beds, four high dependency unit beds and the conversion of two existing high dependency unit beds to ICU beds.

The Department is advised that the report of the Cavan-Monaghan hospital steering group was published on the 22 October 2004. The board now proposes to establish a formal implementation group to progress the various recommendations contained in the report.