102 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on his commitments to provide a replacement hospital at St. Mary's Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; the funds allocated for this project; the number of beds expected to be provided in the new hospital; if these beds will be located entirely on the site at Mullingar; his plans to relocate this new hospital; if so, the location in this regard; and the timeframe in which he expects this to happen. [9546/02]

I recently conveyed approval to the Midland Health Board to appoint a project team to prepare a brief for the services to replace St. Mary's Hospital, Mullingar.

In the circumstances, there is no information available at present in relation to bed numbers or locations of likely replacement unit(s).