Written answers

Thursday, 20 October 2005

Department of Health and Children

Hospitals Building Programme

5:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of the €20 million upgrade project of Ennis General Hospital; when the project will go to the next phase; the timeframe for the overall project; when tendering for the project will commence; when it is expected that building will commence if given an expeditious planning process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29898/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. An outline development control plan for the hospital has been prepared and was endorsed by the Mid-Western Health Board in December 2004. The progression of the development at Ennis is now a matter for consideration by the Health Service Executive in the context of the capital investment framework 2005 to 2009.

Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have the issues raised investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the timeframe for the completion of works at Mullingar Hospital; the nature of the works involved and if they take account of the additional capacity which will be required as the town expands in line with the projections by both the county council and the national spatial strategy. [29899/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. This includes responsibility for considering new capital proposals or progressing those in the health capital programme. Accordingly, my Department is requesting the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

The Health Service Executive has made provision to progress this development within the health capital investment framework 2005 to 2009. The project has been sanctioned up to tender stage, which includes completion of detailed design documentation. It was recently decided to fast-track the completion of the fit-out of the ward accommodation in the shelled-out area. This decision was taken in order to provide additional capacity more quickly than if the full project proceeded as a single construction contract. The design team is currently preparing detailed drawings with the intention of going to tender in March 2006. With this in mind, a prior indicative notice, PIN, is to be lodged in the Official Journal of the European Union by mid-October. I understand that staff on site are to be fully consulted as part of the detailed design process. Planning permission is to be sought by the beginning of November and the target completion date for the fit-out of the shelled area is early 2007.

On completion, the fit-out of the shelled accommodation is intended to provide an additional 43 beds, mainly medical and surgical beds. The design work on the second stage of the project will continue in parallel with the fit-out and equipping of the shelled accommodation project. The second stage will include the provision of the following new facilities: pathology department, operating department, medicine for the elderly-rehabilitation unit, acute psychiatric unit, child and adolescent psychiatric unit, occupational therapy department, administrative accommodation, staff accommodation, education facilities, catering facilities and a new entrance concourse.

The completion of the second stage of the project is intended to provide 16 additional beds, mainly for day cases, as well as accommodating the transfer of 50 rehabilitation and acute psychiatric beds from facilities currently located outside the hospital. In all, there will be 109 additional beds on the hospital campus following the completion of the overall development. It has been estimated by the Health Service Executive that additional revenue funding of the order of €10 million, excluding inflation, will be required on an annual basis to run the shelled-out area when it is fully fitted out. This estimate reflects a combination of the additional pay and non-pay costs required.

Given the significant level of additional annual revenue costs associated with the project, I recently decided that an independent review of the estimate is necessary, to ensure that the estimate and staff profile represent best value for money. This review is due to be completed prior to the finalisation of the tender documentation and it is not anticipated that it will delay the project.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position in regard to a project (details supplied) in County Galway; if she will report on her recent announcement in regard to funding for this unit; the number of beds that will be provided; the ancillary accommodation that will be provided; if the proposed building will be a complete replacement for the existing facility or if it will be an extension to the existing facility; and if so, the number of beds which will result. [29929/05]

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and social services. This includes responsibility for the proposed developments at St. Brendan's Hospital, Loughrea, County Galway.

The HSE western area has confirmed that a project planning brief for the development of a 40 bed community nursing unit in Loughrea with expansion to 80 beds is being completed. This brief was prepared by a multidisciplinary team and the group proposed a number of units based in the major population centres of Tuam, Loughrea and Ballinasloe as the east Galway centres as set out in the Western Health Board strategy, Health and Well-being for Older People. The Tánaiste has granted approval to bring the project to design stage. The local multidisciplinary team, who will advise on the design, has been appointed. This proposal is included as part of the HSE's capital investment framework for 2005 to 2009. It is envisaged that the replacement community nursing unit will be located on the grounds of St. Brendan's campus and it will be used to facilitate the transfer of residents currently placed on the upper floors of the original building.

As responsibility for the development of services now rests with the HSE, any decisions relating to this project will be a matter for the HSE having regard to its overall capital funding priorities.

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