Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to close Saint Bricin's Military Hospital in Dublin 7; if so, the timeframe for the closure; in the event of closure, if the Government is committed to building a purpose-built military hospital in another location; if it is not to close, if the Government will ensure that it is included in the upcoming legislation from the Department of Health covering local hospital groups, thus ensuring that the clinical governance and services available there meet agreed national best practice; if he will commit to ensuring that adequate investment in the hospital is made to bring it up to acceptable national standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35954/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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St. Bricin's is not a military hospital and does not provide the types of services which would be provided in hospitals run for example by the HSE. Also, it does not provide any services to the general public.

St. Bricin's operates as a military medical facility providing General Practitioner and some outpatient services to members of the Defence Forces. It also has a very small lying-in capacity that can provide limited nursing services for patients. For reasons of economy and efficiency, the majority of secondary health care for members of the Defence Forces is provided through the public and private health system.

A decision was taken to close the St. Bricin’s military medical facility as part of the decentralisation programme. That decision included a provision that St. Bricin's would remain in operation as a military medical facility pending the provision of suitable alternative facilities. To date it has not proved possible to advance that project given available resources and the Defence Forces priorities in relation to infrastructure investment.

In relation to governance and standards, the Director of the Defence Forces' Medical Branch has responsibility for clinical governance and ensuring that medical services/treatment provided to Defence Forces personnel meet best practice and required standards. In addition, as St. Bricin's is not a hospital and there are no plans to upgrade its status or to provide for a hospital facility within the Defence Forces, the question of it being included in Department of Health legislation covering hospital groups does not arise.