Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the promises made to cystic fibrosis patients to provide a number of isolation beds in summer 2008 for adult cystic fibrosis patients who need treatment in a hospital setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16263/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to the project at St Vincent's Hospital, the National Adult Tertiary Centre for the treatment of persons with cystic fibrosis.

I identified the need to improve services for persons with cystic fibrosis as a priority in the Estimates process over recent years. Since 2006, additional revenue funding of €6.78m has been allocated to the HSE to develop services for patients with cystic fibrosis. I also asked the HSE to place a particular focus on the development of services at St. Vincent's Hospital, where concerns had been raised regarding the need to improve facilities. A number of capital projects have been completed at the hospital and further developments are in progress.

In the longer term, a new ward block is to be built at St. Vincent's which will include 120 replacement beds in single en-suite accommodation. The new facility will accommodate cystic fibrosis patients and will include appropriate isolation facilities. The HSE advises that planning permission has been obtained, financial provision has been included in the HSE Capital Plan and the contract is to be awarded in 2008. It will be a condition of the contract that the design build period be no more than 24 months from the date of contract award.

In the interim, work is underway on the refurbishment of accommodation to provide eight single en-suite rooms for patients with cystic fibrosis. The project is due to be completed over the coming months. The HSE advises that on completion of this first phase, work will commence to further increase the number of single rooms for patients 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. The HSE advises that patients with cystic fibrosis will also benefit from additional single room capacity in the new medical admissions unit at the hospital which is due to open in December.