The cost of upgrading St Bricin's Military Hospital in Dublin to a standard which would make it suitable for acute hospital care would be close to €25 million, it is now estimated.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has stated in a written reply to a parliamentary question that the cost of upgrading the hospital "to the standard of acute health board and public voluntary hospitals" would be at least €20 million at 2001 prices.
Labour's health spokeswoman Liz McManus said that allowing for inflation, the cost would now be close to €25 million. She said given that the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a shortfall of €200 million this year, it is unlikely it would be able to find money to upgrade St Bricin's.
Hopes that the unit could be used to alleviate A&E overcrowding at the nearby Mater hospital were raised after Mr O'Dea announced in April that he was offering St Bricin's to the health services.
However, an inspection of the hospital by health service staff immediately indicated substantial investment would be required. Mr O'Dea said he was awaiting receipt of their "considered opinion".
The amount which would need to be spent on it by the Department of Health would depend on the use to which the hospital was put, he added.
Ms McManus said last night the cost of upgrading St Bricin's, which has about 100 idle beds, must have been known to Mr O'Dea when he made his original announcement. "It would appear that the offer was designed to generate a few favourable headlines for the Minister, rather than make any real contribution to solving the A&E crisis."
Mr O'Dea has already dismissed claims that his offer was a "gimmick".
Meanwhile, there were over 230 patients on trolleys in A&E units across the State again yesterday, according to the Irish Nurses Organisation. By afternoon, the HSE said the figure was 176.