asked the Minister for Health whether he will indicate the present position regarding the proposed new hospital at Caherciveen, and whether he will issue instructions to have building work started without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Caherciveen Hospital.
asked the Minister for Health (1) if he will state the cause of the undue delay in commencing the erection of the district hospital in Caherciveen, and (2) if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the work is commenced forthwith.
With your permission, I propose to take Questions No. 138 and 139 together.
The most recent development regarding the proposed new district hospital at Caherciveen was the discussion of the matter by the Kerry County Council on 14th November when, according to Press reports, a revised estimate of £124,775 for this hospital was under consideration. On 29th November I inquired from the county council as to the reasons for the increase in the estimated cost of the project as compared with the previous estimate of £78,000. I have not received any reply so far.
I think the Deputies will agree that for a 34-bed district hospital the cost given in the latest estimate must be regarded as unreasonably high. Until I receive the information requested from the local authority and the possibility of securing economies is fully explored I would not feel justified in issuing instructions for the immediate completion of the planning and the preparation of contract documents which, as the Deputies will be aware, is necessary before tenders could be invited, a contract placed and the work started.
Mr. Flynn
Is the Minister aware that the delay is not the fault of the Kerry County Council and that the query should be addressed to the architect who increased his estimate from £78,000 to £140,000 without giving any details at all to the Kerry County Council. The architect stated that there was what he called a local operating department as an addition. If the Minister would facilitate the county council, they would be very grateful if the architect——
That is not a question.
I am not the employing authority. The Kerry County Council is the employing authority and it is their function to question any action the architect may have taken.
In view of the fact that the provision of a hospital in Caherciveen appears to have been on the stocks for a number of years, has the Minister any hope that a hospital will be built there in the near future?
I have no reason to doubt that a hospital will be built there in the near future and, I hope, at a more reasonable cost than that which appears to have been put before the county council and myself at the moment.