Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1004. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for St Joseph’s hospital, Stranorlar; his further plans for keeping all 78 short and long-term stay beds which are based in wards (details supplied) in the hospital; the timeframe for staff restoration in order to facilitate this commitment at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36109/17]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1005. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to retain the long-term bed capacity at Lifford community hospital; his further plans to bring the hospital up to the required standards to ensure its future survival; the delivery of such proposals; the stage at which those plans are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36110/17]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1006. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for retaining all long-term bed capacity at Ramelton community hospital; his further plans for the long-term future of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36111/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 to 1006, inclusive, together.

Many public units are housed in buildings that are less than ideal in the modern context, but notwithstanding this, the care delivered to residents is generally of a very high standard. It is important therefore that we upgrade our public bed stock and this is the aim of the 5 year Capital Investment Programme for Community Nursing Units which was announced last year. This provides the framework to allow for an enhanced programme to replace, upgrade and refurbish these care facilities, as appropriate. Significant work was undertaken to determine the most optimum scheduling of projects within the phased provision of funding to achieve compliance with National Standards. By the end of 2016 I understand that 14 projects were operational and a further 12 are expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Under this Programme it is proposed to build a new 130 bed community nursing unit in Letterkenny by the end of 2021, through a Public Private Partnership or alternative funding model, to replace existing long-stay accommodation including that provided at St Joseph's, Stranorlar and Ramelton and Lifford Community Hospitals.

Operational responsibility for delivering the programme is a matter for the HSE. The Executive has advised that the Letterkenny project is currently at Design Feasibility stage with a projected completion date of 2021. As part of the preparatory work for the development of the new community nursing unit, I understand that the HSE is undertaking a review of the three Community Hospitals, referred to by the Deputy with a view to identifying any options for their future use.