Sir, - Brian Cowen, TD, Minister for Health and Children, has asked me to refer to the article on the proposed development at St Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park (The Irish Times, June 22nd).
There are a number of inaccurate statements in this article which the Minister has asked me to bring to your attention. It is incorrect to say that no capital funding has been allocated so far to the development at St Vincent's. This project is currently being planned and funding is being made available as required to finance the design, planning and other associated costs as the liabilities mature for payment. Nor is it true to say that most of the current capital budget is being invested in the Tullamore and Mater Hospital projects. In fact, both of these projects are at an earlier planning stage than the St Vincent's project, and will take up only about seven per cent in total of the spending in the current programme 1999-2001.
The article also contains comments on the nurses' home, some of which are misleading and this Department will be taking up these issues direct with the hospital. - Yours, etc., Gerry Steadman, Communications Manager, Department of Health and Children,
Hawkins House, Dublin 2.