Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the planning brief for all the building requirements at St. Luke's Hospital is complete. A design team has already completed the design and tendering for the new outpatient department. The team is currently reconciling the development control plan for the hospital with the design brief to ensure the new outpatient department will be consistent with the overall development plan for the St. Luke's site and to facilitate the upgrading of the existing accident and emergency department. The HSE expects that the development control plan will be finalised by the end of 2006.

Work on the new outpatient department is scheduled to commence within the next few weeks, with an agreed programme for completion of building works of 15 months. The HSE has informed the Department of Health and Children that, following the construction of the new outpatient department, the construction of a new A&E department is the top priority for St Luke's Hospital. The existing outpatient department will be used for expansion of the A&E department. A design team has been appointed and is preparing the necessary tender documentation to enable construction to commence in 2008.

The HSE operates eight hospital networks, with a total of 35 accident and emergency departments-minor injuries units. These are supported by a 24-7 ambulance service. In addition, GP out-of-hours services are in place to support the delivery of emergency care. The latest such service to be introduced is in north Dublin. It is commencing this evening and is due to be fully operational within the coming weeks.

St. Luke's Hospital provides acute services, including accident and emergency services, to the populations of counties Carlow and Kilkenny. The HSE provides a 24-hour ambulance service in County Carlow as part of this service. Carlow town was also the location of the first comprehensive on-duty out-of-hours general practitioner co-operative in Ireland.