asked the Minister for Health if he will now state whether he will sanction proposals submitted to him some considerable time ago for renovations and alterations at the District Hospital, Abbeyleix, County Laoighis; and, if so, whether he will allocate the necessary sum from the Hospitals' Trust Fund for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abbeyleix District Hospital.
I referred this proposal to the Hospitals' Commission and they recommended that, considering that even with a fairly heavy expenditure, Abbeyleix District Hospital would still fall short of modern standards, the interests of the county would be best served by the provision of extra beds at the County Hospital, Portlaoighise. They accordingly recommended that a grant should not be made available for the proposed improvements at Abbeyleix District Hospital.
I have accepted this recommendation and I have notified the local authority accordingly.