Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is unable to be present. I am responding on her behalf.

The Minister acknowledges the need to improve services to persons with cystic fibrosis. Negative experiences recounted recently by a number of young patients are a matter of much concern to us all. The Minister identified the enhancement of services to persons with cystic fibrosis as a key priority in the Estimates process in recent years.

In 2006 and 2007, additional revenue funding of €6.78 million was provided to the HSE. It has advised that 44 additional staff, covering both adult and paediatric services, have been appointed across a number of hospitals, including St. Vincent's, Beaumont, Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, Galway, Limerick and Waterford hospitals, and Cork University Hospital. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally.

The HSE was asked to place particular focus on the development of services at the national adult tertiary referral centre at St. Vincent's Hospital. A number of capital projects have recently been completed at the hospital and have helped to improve facilities. These include a new ambulatory care centre, the refurbishment of St. Camillus' ward and a new accident and emergency department which includes single-room accommodation. However, these developments do not fully address the immediate needs of patients. The HSE has been working intensively with the hospital and with representatives of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland to progress options for further interim improvements. My Department is advised that the option of developing a modular unit is being examined in this context and the position will be clarified shortly.

The HSE is currently fast-tracking the redevelopment of a ward that is adjacent to the main cystic fibrosis treatment area. The project is to commence within the next few weeks and will provide six single rooms. On completion, additional work will begin to provide a further eight single rooms. This will result in a total of 14 single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients by the end of the summer.

In the longer term, a new ward block is to be built and it will include 120 replacement beds in single en suite accommodation, including accommodation for cystic fibrosis patients. The Department is advised that planning permission has been obtained, financial provision has been included in the HSE capital plan and the contract is to be awarded by the end of 2008. It will be a condition of the contract that the design-build period is to be not more than 24 months from the date of contract award.

Beaumont Hospital operates as a regional centre in providing services to adults with cystic fibrosis. In the 2008 budget, a special allocation of €2.5 million capital funding was provided to enable Beaumont Hospital to provide outpatient facilities for cystic fibrosis patients.

Specialist paediatric services for children with cystic fibrosis are provided at the national tertiary centre at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin. Services are also provided at other centres in Dublin, including Temple Street and Tallaght, and on a regional basis at centres including those at Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Drogheda. The majority of paediatric cystic fibrosis care is delivered on an ambulatory care basis. The developments I have outlined will significantly enhance the level of service provided for persons with cystic fibrosis.