Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her proposals to deal with issues relating to cystic fibrosis; if she will note the particular public interest generated recently in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1503/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to address the concerns expressed by cystic fibrosis patients on national radio recently and in particular if she will ensure that isolation beds and specialist staff are provided in hospital grounds immediately via the use of modular buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1524/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will give a commitment for the provision of single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients to reduce risk of cross infection; if and when such facilities may be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1546/08]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to adult care facilities for cystic fibrosis sufferers; when suitable adult care facilities will be made available; if this can be dealt with as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1575/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the full extent of accommodation and facilities available on a county basis for patients and sufferers of cystic fibrosis; her plans to improve or extend this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1622/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when temporary hospital beds will be provided for cystic fibrosis patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1997/08]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposed dedicated new cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital; and if she will actively prioritise this project in 2008. [2563/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to improve the treatment facilities for sufferers of cystic fibrosis; if she will take direct control of plans to provide a dedicated cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2624/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 349, 352, 357, 358, 375, 432, 498 and 508 together.

I acknowledge the need to improve services to persons with cystic fibrosis. Much of the debate has centred around the need for improved services at the National Adult Referral Centre at St. Vincent's University Hospital. The negative experience recounted by some patients is a matter of much concern to me.

I identified the development of cystic fibrosis services as a policy priority in the Estimates process in recent years. In 2006 and 2007, additional revenue funding of €6.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE was asked to place a particular focus on the development of services at the National Tertiary Referral Centre at St. Vincent's Hospital.

The HSE advise that 44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date across a number of hospitals, including St Vincent's, Beaumont, Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, Cork University Hospital, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally.

I accept the need to improve the infrastructural facilities for persons with cystic fibrosis who are required to attend hospital. For example, at St.Vincent's Hospital, a number of capital projects have recently been completed and have helped to improve facilities. These include a new ambulatory care centre, which has dedicated accommodation (8 suites in total), incorporating single room facilities on an outpatient appointment basis for cystic fibrosis patients in an environment which allows for improved infection control; the refurbishment of St. Camillus Ward and the provision of 15 additional respiratory/cystic fibrosis beds bringing the bed complement to 44; the new Accident and Emergency Department includes single room accommodation, which may be used for the care of cystic fibrosis patients.

However, it is accepted that these developments do not fully address the immediate needs of patients. The HSE has been working intensively with the Hospital and with representatives of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland to progress options for further interim improvements. My Department is advised that the option of developing a modular unit is being examined in this context and the position will be clarified shortly.

The HSE advises that it is fast-tracking the re-development of a ward which is adjacent to the main cystic fibrosis treatment area. The project is to commence within the next few weeks and will provide six single rooms. On completion, additional work will begin to provide a further eight single rooms. The HSE advise that this will result in a total of fourteen single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients by the end of the summer.

In the longer term, a new ward block is to be built and will include 120 replacement beds in single en-suite accommodation. The new facility will accommodate cystic fibrosis patients and will include appropriate isolation facilities. My Department is advised that planning permission has been obtained and that financial provision has been included in the HSE Capital Plan. The HSE advises that contract notices will be published by the end of February 2008 and the contract is to be awarded by the end of 2008. It will be a condition of the contract that the design build period be not more than 24 months from the date of contract award.

Beaumont Hospital also operates as a regional centre in providing services to adults with cystic fibrosis. In the 2008 Budget, a special allocation of €2.5m capital funding was provided to enable Beaumont hospital to provide out patient facilities for cystic fibrosis patients.

A Cystic Fibrosis Registry has been set up by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland. As yet, the data is not available to fully inform analysis relating to median survival in this country. When it is available, the data from the Registry will allow for benchmarking against comparable countries around the world to measure the performance of our healthcare system.

My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly on any additional operational issues raised in the Deputies questions.