Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I am taking the Adjournment debate on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Senator Bannon for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to give the House an update on the project.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, HSE, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the HSE has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services, including its capital programme. Phase 2B of the Midland Regional Hospital is being progressed in this context.

The necessary funds to progress phase 2B form part of the funding provided to the HSE in the capital envelope of the capital investment framework 2005-09. The hospital is being redeveloped in phases. Phase 1 was completed in 1989 and phase 2A in 1997, at a cost of €13 million. Phase 2A included "shelled out" accommodation — external walls, floors and roof — for completion in phase 2B, the final phase of the current redevelopment programme, which is at the design stage. The "shelled out" accommodation is on four floors over the existing radiology department and a single floor over the entrance concourse. It was provided for future ward accommodation and an operating department. The accommodation was provided as part of the phase 2A contract as a long-term value for money construction solution which will minimise disruption to existing functioning accommodation during the phase 2B construction works contract.

The Department of Health and Children approved the Midland Health Board's stage 2 development control plan, together with stage 3 sketch design cost plan for phase 2B in September 2004. It is anticipated that stage 3 will be completed in the near future. Phase 2B includes the fit-out of the "shelled out" accommodation together with additional accommodation, to provide the following: pathology and operating departments; general medical and surgical wards; medicine for the elderly-rehabilitation unit; day services, including surgery; administration and staff accommodation; acute psychiatric unit; child and adolescent psychiatric unit; occupational therapy department; catering and educational facilities; and a new entrance concourse.

The HSE service plan for 2005 was recently approved by the Tánaiste and, as required by relevant legislation, laid before the House of the Oireachtas. The detailed capital funding programme for 2005 is currently being finalised in the context of the capital investment framework 2005-09. This process also requires that issues relating to non-capital costs and staffing implications be addressed by the HSE prior to commencing new construction on individual projects.

When the capital investment framework is finalised, the HSE will then be in a position to progress its capital programme for this year. This process involves making provision for commitments, carrying forward from 2004 and initiating new contractual commitments for individual projects, in line with overall funding resources available for this year and beyond. The Tánaiste is aware that the procurement priority for phase 2B has always been the fit-out of the "shelled out" ward accommodation, as the first stage, to provide additional beds to enhance the delivery of clinical services by the hospital.