Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power, to the House, congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well.

I have raised this matter on many occasions both in the Dáil and Seanad. The provision of an Alzheimer's unit was provided for in the National Development Plan 2001-2006. According to a reply received from the then Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Dr. Moffatt, on 16 October 2001, it was indicated that it would be completed in the latter half of this development plan.

Discussions regarding the provision of an Alzheimer's unit have been taking place for at least the past six years. During that time, St. Ita's Hospital has been visited by a succession of Ministers. When there is a ministerial visit to west Limerick it seems to be de rigueur to turn up at St. Ita's Hospital and give one's blessing to the Alzheimer's unit. For example, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, when Minister for Health and Children, the Taoiseach prior to the last election and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely, when Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, following one of the Government's sojourns in Killarney, visited the hospital. They have all been made aware of the importance of the Alzheimer's unit and it is time construction took place.

I understand it is up to the Department of Health and Children to give approval to the Mid-Western Health Board to invite tenders. There has been enough delay in the provision of this essential building. I understand it is being included in the Department's capital investment framework for 2004-08 so the time is stretching out.

St. Ita's Hospital was constructed in 1840 and renovated in 1975. Many parts of the hospital require constant refurbishment. St. Ita's Hospital urgently needs this dedicated unit because it is unfair to those patients in wards who do not have Alzheimer's disease and those visiting them because doors have to be locked in certain wards within the hospital. The staff at St. Ita's Hospital do great work and both they and the members of the community are bitterly disappointed that decisive action has not been taken. I call on the Minister for Health and Children to give a clear-cut commitment as to when this unit will be provided. There has been enough delay on this issue and urgent action is required. I look forward to the response of the Minister of State.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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Given that this is going on for a very long time, when does the Minister of State think authorisation will be given to the Mid-Western Health Board to seek tenders?

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The matter is currently under consideration and I hope a decision will be made in the near future. However, I cannot give the Senator a precise date.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Minister of State will find out what is meant by the near future because it has been stretched out significantly.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Senator will be kept informed.

Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)
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I hope the Minister of State will do so. I will remind him again.