28 Mr. Stafford asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the plans he has for the future of all properties owned by the Eastern Health Board in the Grangegorman area of Dublin 7; if it is intended to sell the houses, hospital and lands; and the purpose for which the Old Richmond/ Hardwicke/St. Laurence's Hospitals complex is being used.

The management of its estate is primarily a matter for the Eastern Health Board. The board has not submitted any proposals to me regarding the specific future use of the lands and properties which it owns in this area.

However, the board has submitted a report on its capital funding needs over the next ten years. It has identified the properties which is was agreed, in principle, can be disposed of in the short, medium and long term as a contribution to the funding of those needs. A number of its staff houses at Lower Grangegorman Villas/Marne Villas are included in the short term category; up to six acres on the eastern side of Grangegorman is included in the medium term category and property on the west side of Grangegorman has been identified as one of those in the long term category.