John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator White. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy Harney, cannot be in the House and I take the Adjournment on her behalf. I accept totally the bona fides of the case made by the Senator. Last night in the Dáil, I took the Adjournment debate, not the Minister. I made it clear on her behalf that while the HSE states that it does not have the funding at present this situation will be reviewed after the budget of next week. I will rely on the script prepared for the Minister to outline her position.

The Minister has consistently emphasised the need to improve facilities and services to persons with cystic fibrosis. It is worth noting that 48 additional staff, 19 at St. Vincent's Hospital, including consultant, nursing and allied health professionals, have been appointed across the hospital system in recent years in order to enhance the level of services provided for persons with cystic fibrosis.

St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin is the national adult tertiary referral centre for patients with cystic fibrosis. A number of capital projects to improve the quality of accommodation have been completed at the hospital recently. These include the refurbishment last year of accommodation to provide eight single en-suite rooms for the exclusive use of people with cystic fibrosis. The eight single rooms have improved the quality of service for people with cystic fibrosis. The hospital's management works closely with doctors caring for cystic fibrosis patients to ensure the needs of those patients requiring treatment are met within the overall bed complement at the hospital.

It is intended that a proposed 120 bed development will include dedicated facilities for patients with cystic fibrosis. These facilities will include appropriate isolation facilities, as mentioned by the Senator. Design work and preparation of tender documents continue in respect of the development. This is a significant capital project in the acute hospitals area. The HSE's draft capital programme of 2009-13 is currently the subject of consideration. The Minister has confirmed she will discuss this matter and the overall capital plan with the Health Service Executive after the budget of 7 April. This is far from being a closed case but it involves seeing what is available in the capital plan which will become obvious to all of us after next Tuesday. At this point, the Minister has stated she will encourage innovative solutions to implement high priority projects, so that services, including for patients with cystic fibrosis, can continue to be developed.

A number of other significant capital projects are being progressed for cystic fibrosis patients throughout the country, including in Beaumont Hospital. The HSE's expert advisory group on children and families produced a draft policy document on the implementation of a cystic fibrosis screening programme for newborns. A steering group will be established in 2009 to oversee the roll out of the screening programme. An independent register for cystic fibrosis has been established. It is expected that preliminary data offering full analysis relating to median survival here will be available by the third quarter of 2009.

The Minister is conscious that further improvements are required, including the need to develop community outreach services to facilitate the treatment of patients outside of a hospital setting, where appropriate. Taken together, the planned developments represent a tangible improvement in the quality of services for people with cystic fibrosis.

I emphasise that the capital programme, as promised, is still on the agenda and further clarity will be available after Tuesday next.