Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the situation whereby a new fully equipped accident and emergency unit at the Mercy Hospital, Cork, is lying idle whilst the present unit elsewhere on the campus of the Mercy University Hospital was deemed unfit for its purpose over two years ago, is tiny and does not have enough space for the demands on it. [14221/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive (HSE) to have the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to have delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of services at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork.

Improving the delivery of Accident and Emergency services continues to be a top priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive. There are three Accident and Emergency Departments in Cork City. These are located at Cork University Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital, and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. These units are cross-covered by a team of Consultants in Emergency Medicine.

Funding of €4.7m for the provision of a new Accident and Emergency Department at the Mercy University Hospital was included in the HSE's Capital Plan 2006-2010. Building work on the new Accident and Emergency Department was completed on schedule in January 2007. The work of equipping and commissioning the new facility was completed at the end of October 2007.

The HSE has informed my Department that there are currently 46 staff assigned to the existing A&E Department at an annual cost of approximately €2.5m. The staff complement includes the equivalent of 18 full time nurses, 1 full time Consultant in Emergency Medicine, 2 Registrars and 7 Senior House Officers. The working of the existing Department is underpinned by close working relationships with physiotherapists, a social worker, an occupational therapist, radiographer, pharmacist, psychiatry and other support services, including chaplains, security and housekeeping staff.

The original approval for the project included an additional revenue allocation of €0.40m. I understand that in January 2007, the Mercy University Hospital submitted an application to the HSE's National Hospitals Office for an additional 24.5 full time staff for the new unit, at a cost of almost €1.5m. This would represent a very substantial increase in staffing over the current complement.

In December 2007, in an effort to advance the issue, both sides agreed to an evaluation of the staffing requirement for the new facility. I understand that this process will be concluded shortly. On Monday 14th April the Mercy University Hospital indicated that it proposed to bring the new Accident and Emergency Department in the Hospital into operation on a limited basis, beginning in June 2008. The HSE and Mercy University Hospital are engaged in on-going discussions regarding the opening of the A&E Department and related issues.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a statement on the recent comments by an association (details supplied) that seven emergency departments nationwide have been identified as unfit for the purpose by the Emergency Department Task Force and are in that condition two years after she declared emergency departments overcrowding, a national emergency. [14222/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Emergency Department Task Force Report was commissioned by the Health Service Executive and published in June 2007. Significant additional resources have been provided to address the problems which manifest in Emergency Departments. Among the developments which have taken place in line with the recommendations of the Task Force Report are:

additional public and private Long Stay Beds,

additional Home Care Packages and Home Help Hours,

major capital developments in emergency departments and the provision of Acute Medical Assessment Units, including Mercy Hospital, Cork, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Beaumont Hospital.

Hospital in the Home Service in the greater Dublin area.

Community Intervention Teams in Cork, Limerick and Dublin.

Rapid assessment clinics to support the catchment population of the Mater hospital.

Expansion of the GP out of hours services in North Dublin.

In drawing up its Capital Plan the Health Service Executive is required to prioritise the capital infrastructure projects to be progressed within its overall capital funding allocation under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, taking account of the NDP targets for division of capital investment between the Acute and Primary, Community & Continuing Care pillars. The HSE has submitted a draft Capital Plan to my Department, including provision for A & E developments, for consideration and approval in the normal way. The draft plan sets out the HSE's proposed short and longer term priorities and commitments. Consultation on the plan is ongoing between the HSE, the Department of Finance and my Department. The HSE has undertaken to provide additional clarification on its proposed capital developments and is currently engaged in this process.