Mullingar Hospital children’s ward
Phase 1 of Mullingar Hospital’s redevelopment includes a children’s ward, and the Minister said funding would allow planning to continue; the stage 3 documents were under review. Deputies challenged the delays and sought specific spending figures, while the Minister distinguished capital funding from health-board revenue pressures and said the overall development budget was £10.21 million.
asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding the provision of a children's ward at the Mullingar General Hospital, County Westmeath; and when work on the extension will commence.
Comment on this
Phase 1 of the proposed redevelopment of Mullingar General Hospital includes provisions for a children's ward. I am providing funds to enable planning of the scheme to continue this year.
Comment on this
We thank the Minister for the belated sanction for this children's ward. Will the Minister tell us where the funds will come from? Is he aware that recently we renovated two wards in St. Mary's and we cannot get sanction to pay nurses for those two wards?
Comment on this
The documents for the stage 3 planning of phase 1 of the scheme were submitted to the Department on 13 May 1980. They were examined by the Department's technical advisers and are considered to be in order. Formal approval of stage 3 documents——
Comment on this
The funds are being made available now to enable planning to continue and I have informed the health board accordingly.
Comment on this
Why are the funds available now when they were not available over the past four years? Is the Minister aware that the mental health board stated that unless there is a severe curtailment in expenditure they will be out of money before the end of September? How can he reconcile the two?
Comment on this
The question the Deputy is raising does not relate to the question on the Order Paper. He is talking about revenue. This is a question about capital expenditure.
Comment on this
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister said he has allocated funds to allow planning to continue this year. Can he tell us how much money will be spent or allocated for work to be done between now and the end of the year in regard to planning?
Comment on this
The project is included in a number of projects which have been given the go-ahead by me through to building and not just planning. It is a continuous procedure.
Comment on this
(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister say how much money will be spent on that ward in Mullingar between now and the end of the year?
