asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what steps have been taken to proceed with the hospitalisation scheme for County Waterford including a new hospital at Dungarvan, and if he will indicate how the matter now stands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford Hospitalisation Scheme.
The hospitals proposed would cost about a quarter of a million. Sketch plans for the county hospital submitted to the Department appeared to be satisfactory but the estimated cost was approximately £1,500 per bed, which was regarded as excessive. Careful consideration was given last year to the possibility of reducing the all-in cost and the matter was discussed with the commissioner administering the Waterford Board of Public Assistance. No proposals for reducing the cost have since been received. In the present conditions and having regard to the extent of the commitments on the Hospitals Trust Fund the proposals for new district hospitals at Dungarvan and Lismore must be deferred.