Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

The Government has made services for older people a priority and is fully committed to the development of a comprehensive health service capable of responding quickly, fully and effectively to the health service needs of older people. In recent years, health and social services for older people have improved, both in hospitals and in the community. Since coming into office, the Government has increased substantially the level of funding, both capital and revenue, in respect of services for older people. For example, in excess of €280 million additional revenue has been allocated to these services from 1997 to date. I believe this serves to demonstrate the Government's ongoing commitment to improving services to our older population.

Significant capital funding for the health sector has been provided since the commencement of the national development plan in 2000. The total expenditure for the years 2000-03 was approximately €1.7 billion. Considerable progress has been made in addressing the historical deficits in health infrastructure and improving the standards of facilities required for quality modern patient care. The national development plan provides considerable capital funding to services for older people. On a national basis, this will enable a comprehensive infrastructure of community nursing units and day-care facilities to be put in place, as well as the refurbishment of existing extended care facilities and the replacement of older accommodation. Older people deserve first-class facilities and we intend to provide such facilities in appropriate locations.

On the new dementia unit at St. Ita's Hospital, Newcastle West, the provision of health services in County Limerick is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board in the first instance. In 2000, as part of the national development plan, it was agreed that a project team be established for the development of a ten-bed elderly mentally infirm unit at St. Ita's Hospital, Newcastle West. The project team subsequently decided that the development should be increased to a 12-bed unit. The scope of this development is in keeping with the objectives laid down in the report, The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly, and will comprise bed accommodation and ancillary facilities initially for 12 inpatients, including up to a maximum of four dedicated respite beds.

Provision has been made for this development within the Department's capital investment framework 2004-2008. Planning permission for the proposed development has been obtained from the local planning authority. The Mid-Western Health Board has submitted documentation to my Department in regard to this project with a request for approval to seek tenders for construction of the unit.

The next step in progressing the project to construction is to arrange for the submission of tenders. Any decision on progressing this project will be considered by my Department in the context of the significant additional revenue funding and staff which will be required by the board and its successor, the health services executive, to operate the new unit and having regard to the employment ceiling and funding available to my Department.