The completion of a new hospital development in the midlands, which has been lying idle for eight years, is now facing further delays as its design has to be updated to meet new standards for infection control.
A new wing at the Longford Westmeath General Hospital in Mullingar was finished in 1997. However, four storeys remain a shell and have never been equipped.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said last year that the first-phase of the wing, which would provide 45 extra beds, would be fitted out in 2007.
However, Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has said that the design for the new wing has had to be reviewed to take account of the recently-completed strategy for the control of infection in hospitals.
A HSE spokesman said any delay would not be significant.
Ms Harney said the National Hospitals Office had also been asked by the Department of Health whether it endorsed figures produced by the HSE in the midlands on the cost of running the new wing "taking account of the matters described above".
She said the development of phase 2B of Longford Westmeath General Hospital was planned in two stages. Some 61 extra beds would be provided.
In addition to the new beds, the Mullingar development will include a new pathology department, operating theatres, medicine facilities for the elderly, a rehabilitation unit, an acute psychiatric unit, child and adolescent psychiatric unit, an occupational therapy department, and administrative and staff accommodation.
Last autumn 3,000 people protested in Mullingar at the delays in opening the new hospital wing.
The protest followed a report in The Irish Times that the Department of Finance had insisted, as a condition of sanctioning the €500 million health programme for 2005, that the development at Mullingar could not go ahead until a new audit of the costs in opening the unit was completed.
Ms Harney said it was decided to fast track the completion of the first stage of the project. The HSE in the midlands had lodged a prior indicative notice in the European Journal with the intention of going to tender shortly. The target completion date for the first stage was early 2007, and the second stage was due to be finished in 2011.
"The additional revenue cost of commissioning the first stage of the phase 2B development was estimated by the HSE midland area some time ago at over €10 million.
"Given the significant level of expenditure involved, it was decided to commission a review of this estimate in advance of the project proceeding to tender.
"However, a number of issues of significance have arisen recently which have a bearing on both the scope and cost of the project, and which need to be clarified before the review can be undertaken."
Labour Party deputy Willie Penrose said people in Longford and Westmeath had waited since 1997 for the hospital development to be completed. He could not rule out further protests .
