Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support the development of modular units at St. Vincent's Hospital in order that people with cystic fibrosis can be treated in a timely and appropriate manner by specialist staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2687/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans to provide an interim solution to address the needs of cystic fibrosis patients until a permanent unit is established at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2725/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 71 together.

The improvement of services to persons with cystic fibrosis has been a priority of mine. 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 negative experience recounted by some patients is a matter of concern to me.

In 2006 and 2007, additional revenue funding of €6.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE). 44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date throughout the country, with 10 of these posts at St. Vincent's. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally, including a further 9 posts at St. Vincent's.

I accept the need to improve the infrastructural facilities for persons with cystic fibrosis attending St. Vincent's Hospital. A number of capital projects have recently been completed at the hospital 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, which provides 15 additional respiratory/cystic fibrosis beds bringing the bed complement to 44, and

the new Accident and Emergency Department which includes single room accommodation, which may be used for the care of cystic fibrosis patients.

However, I accept that these developments do not 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 advise 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. This would 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. Planning permission has been obtained, financial provision has been included in the HSE Capital Plan and the contract is to be awarded by the end of this year. It will be a condition of the contract that the design build period is to be not more than 24 months from the date of contract award.

I am confident that these developments will significantly enhance the level of service provided for persons with cystic fibrosis.