Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Dáil that no decision has been made on a new regional hospital in the northeast either by the Government or the HSE. Therefore no resources have been allocated as yet in the capital programme.
He was responding to a question by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who asked the Taoiseach to publish a list of the capital projects in health that will and will not go ahead.
The Taoiseach said the current situation is that the HSE has now advised the Department of Health that it commissioned an independent study on the possible location for a regional hospital in the northeast.
Mr Ahern said the board of the HSE had not yet discussed it. Mr Ahern said he had not seen the report or seen a report on the report.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil he does not think it is likely that the proposed new hospital for the northeast will be built during the lifetime of the current National Development Programme.
Mr Ahern said there were no resources in the capital programme for a proposal that has not even been considered by the HSE board yet.
The Taoiseach said the HSE had pledged to provide better services in the five hospitals in the northeast. He said that all five hospitals in place would remain there but not all would have the same services or specialities.
Mary Harney highlights lack of funds
The Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney has said there is no money in the current national development plan to build a new regional hospital for the northeast over the next four to five years.
Speaking today she said the project was a longer term issue. Ms Harney also said the Board of the HSE has yet to consider the consultancy report on the location of the planned hospital.
Brendan Drumm acknowledges need for hospital
HSE Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm has acknowledged the need for a new regional hospital in the northeast.
However, he told RTÉ News that money for the project may be hard to come by.
In the meantime, Prof Drumm said the HSE will continue with its policy of removing some services from smaller hospitals in the region.
He says the HSE will be making an application to the Government for money to build the new regional hospital within the next six months.
However he admitted it was hard to be optimistic at the moment that the money would be readily available.
His comments follow warnings from Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern that there wasn't a 'red cent' available for the project.
It is estimated that the 750-bed regional hospital, which consultants have recommended should be located in Navan, would cost at least €650m.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Prof Drumm said whatever about the future of the northeast regional hospital, the HSE would, despite ongoing protests, continue with its policy of removing some services from hospitals in Monaghan, Navan and Dundalk.
The services and patients will instead be centralised in both Cavan General and in Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda.
That, says the HSE, is in the best interests of patient safety. Critics, however, disagree and argue that services should instead be built up in all five hospitals.
Dermot Ahern says region should have best service
Speaking about the proposed new hospital for the northeast, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has said that the concentration in the near and medium term should be on building up services in the existing hospitals.
Mr Ahern, who is a TD for Louth, said that with two hospitals, the county should have the best health service in the country but it does not. He said it is incumbent on the HSE to ensure that the region has a good service.
