Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the new cystic fibrosis units at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29258/10]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 2 July 2009, if she will provide an update; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29413/10]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the development of life saving isolation rooms for cystic fibrosis patients and services at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29431/10]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the time frame for the development of the additional isolation rooms for cystic fibrosis patients at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29432/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 211, 215 and 216 together.

The project continues to be a priority for the Government and the HSE. Following work with the HSE's senior management, St. Vincent's Hospital and the Department of Finance, I announced in 2009 that the project would proceed to construction on the basis that the building will be paid for at the end of the construction phase. The site at the hospital is cleared and ready for construction to commence and the HSE's capital funding remains ring-fenced for the new development. The 100 inpatient bed unit (in single en-suite rooms) will accommodate many other patients whose medical requirements necessitate single en suite facilities and reflects best practice in terms of infection control. It will also provide 10 single day treatment rooms with en-suite sanitary facilities.

In the normal course payments for construction of a project such as this would have been phased over the construction period. However under the financing method being utilised for this project, the construction company will source bridging finance for the project until the construction is complete. Following receipt of tenders for construction, the procurement process has been particularly difficult and protracted in this case, due to prevailing conditions in the Irish construction industry. The Hospital has now issued a "letter of intent" to a preferred bidder in the tender process for the building of the new ward block.

It is hoped to award the contract in the next few weeks after which construction of the new facility will take about 18 months. The process is under continuous review in order to ensure earliest possible delivery of the new ward block. St Vincent's University Hospital and the HSE remain committed to this project, and are taking every possible step to expedite contract award and earliest commencement of construction on site.