A major refurbishment of Dublin's Beaumont Hospital, at a cost of €25 million, was announced by the Taoiseach today.
Mr Ahern said the funding is being provided by the Government under the National Development Plan.
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The money has been earmarked for a number of improvements to the infrastructure of the hospital, notably in catering and laboratory facilities. A new concourse will also be built at the out-patient department, with work beginning as soon as possible. It should take about two years to complete.
"Beaumont Hospital is now over fifteen years old," Mr Ahern said. "It is particularly important that hospitals, like any other building, are maintained to an appropriate infrastructural standard to the benefit of patients, visitors and staff."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said the money comes from the capital allocation of €500 million, which is contained within the overall 2003 health budget of around €9 billion.
She said the money had not yet been earmarked for specific projects or which had been earmarked for capital developments and had not been spent because the projects were running behind schedule.
The Green Party accused the Taoiseach of trying to deceive the Irish public by repeatedly announcing existing funding in order to appease public opinion. The Greens health spokesman, Mr John Gormley, said Mr Ahern was "reheating a stale meal."
Last week, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, announced a €75 million package for the refurbishment and maintenance of a number of hospitals around the State.
He was accused by the Labour Party's health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, of trying to dress up the €75 million as 'new' money, even though the bulk of the funding had already been included in the health budget.
"If you announce the same thing over and over again, it creates the impression of activity without actually having to do very much," she said.
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