asked the Minister for Health if he will state his attitude towards the proposals now before his Department for the hospitalisation scheme in County Leitrim; if any decision has been come to in the matter and, if so, will he give particulars thereof, and also indicate when the necessary approval for the scheme will be conveyed to the responsible local authority; further, if he is aware that the delay in dealing with the matter by his Department will result in additional costs for any further scheme of this nature, and accordingly, will he give an undertaking that the responsible local authorities will not be called upon to bear such additional costs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Leitrim Hospitalisation Scheme.
The erection of a 61-bed general hospital for Manorhamilton has been approved and the local authority notified. The local authority's architects are at present engaged on the preparation of working drawings for this project. The reconstruction of the Mohill District Hospital to serve the southern area of the county will be undertaken when the new Manorhamilton Hospital has been completed. When the Mohill District Hospital has been reconstructed it is proposed to close down the Carrick-on-Shannon District Hospital. The results of the public health survey now being carried out will be taken into consideration when the accommodation to be provided at Mohill is being determined. A grant from the Hospitals' Trust Fund of ninetenths of the approved cost of the erection of Manorhamilton Hospital has been promised so that the local authority will be called upon to bear only one-tenth of the cost.
In so far as future action on these proposals involves my Department, I can assure the Deputy that the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.