Minister for Health Mary Harney has acknowledged in the Dáil that there is still a long way to go in relation to services for patients with cystic fibrosis.
In response to a question from Fine Gael's Alan Shatter, the Minister said she acknowleged that the facilities we have in place in this country are not what they should be.
While she said there had been improvements, she accepted the need for single rooms was a priority for cystic fibrosis patients. She said the new paediatric hospital for the country would be all single rooms for patients.
Earlier, the Minister told the Dáil that while short term measures for patients were being put in place at St Vincent's Hospital, the HSE is fast-tracking the redevelopment of a ward adjacent to the main cystic fibrosis treatment area there.
She said this project would commence within the next few weeks and would provide single rooms.
In the longer term the Minister said a new ward block is to be built at St Vincent's to include 120 replacement beds and single ensuite accommodation including accommodation for cystic fibrosis patients.
Ms Harney said planning permission had been obtained for this and the contract to build the block would be awarded later this year.
