Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the fact that Tralee General Hospital was underfunded by €2.5 million in 2003 and €1.25 million in 2004, and that this will result in the closure of one ward for three months in the summer of 2004 due to the fact that the hospital will not have the money to allow for staff stand-ins when they are on holiday. [12504/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a feature of all acute hospital systems that some beds are out of use for short periods. Bed closures fluctuate over time and may arise for a variety of reasons such as staff leave and seasonal closures. My Department understands that the seasonal closure of the ward in Tralee General Hospital will be similar to the seasonal closure of some beds that occurred in 2003. This seasonal closure will enable hospital management to co-ordinate annual leave for staff and thus reduce the level of locum cover needed while staff are on holiday.

My Department allocates funding on an annual basis to the Southern Health Board for the provision of health services. Distribution of this funding to individual hospitals in the region is a matter for the board. Therefore, my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the level of funding provided for Tralee General Hospital.