Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 211: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the interim cardiac plan for Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this question was submitted to her Department in May 2005 and the Health Service Executive has not responded to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33516/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It has been accepted that the current infrastructure at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children does not generally meet the standards required for a modern paediatric hospital. The available facilities do not satisfactorily accommodate the range and extent of current clinical and associated activity. In recognition of this, a project team was established to plan for the overall future development of Our Lady's Hospital, either on the existing hospital site or at an alternative green field location.

The project team has undertaken a detailed examination of the potential to redevelop the hospital on its present site. The project team concluded that the existing clinical services could be retained and developed on the present site but also set out the implications of such an approach in terms of time, cost and disruption to services. As a consequence it is likely that the new hospital will be located at an alternative site. It was also agreed that a number of clinical departments at Crumlin, including the cardiology department, require urgent upgrade or expansion in advance of the overall redevelopment of the hospital. The cardiology project involves the provision of 25 dedicated in-patient cardiac beds, together with improved diagnostic, outpatient and administration facilities. The proposal for the provision of these upgraded facilities is currently under consideration by the Health Service Executive. My Department has asked the executive for a progress report on the cardiology project and I will arrange for this report to be made available to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

I am sorry for the delay in replying to the Deputy's earlier question on this matter.