James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the fourteen additional fast-tracked single-room beds for people with cystic fibrosis will be ring-fenced for cystic fibrosis patients only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4098/08]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the risk of cross-infection arising from shared bathroom facilities, the new rooms for cystic fibrosis patients in St. Vincent's Hospital which she has committed to having in place by the summer of 2008 will have ensuite bathroom facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4117/08]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the risk of cross-infection arising from shared bathroom facilities, the rooms for cystic fibrosis patients in the proposed 120 bed unit for St. Vincent's Hospital will have ensuite bathroom facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4118/08]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of rooms in the proposed new 120 bed unit at St. Vincent's Hospital that will be allocated to patients with cystic fibrosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4119/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 205 to 207, inclusive, together.

The need to improve facilities for persons with cystic fibrosis has been acknowledged. In order to alleviate the immediate service difficulties at the National Adult Tertiary Referral Centre at St. Vincent's University Hospital, the Health Service Executive has been working intensively with the hospital management in identifying and progressing options for interim improvements.

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. The HSE has advised 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. 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.

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