asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have work on the extension to Youghal Mental Hospital proceeded with immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youghal Mental Hospital Extension.
Careful consideration was given, when the short-term hospital building programme was being drawn up, to the works at Cork and Youghal Mental Hospitals which should be included therein and it was finally decided that only the most urgent projects should proceed. The mental hospital authority was accordingly informed in February, 1949 that the provision of an admission unit and infirmary and female nurses' home at the Cork institution might be proceeded with as part of the programme. This decision was accepted by the local authority. The provision of the admission unit and infirmary at Cork Mental Hospital should lessen considerably the demand on the bed accommodation at both the Cork and Youghal institutions.
I can assure the Deputy that, when the present building programme is nearing completion, the case for the inclusion of the extension to Youghal Mental Hospital in a further building programme will be fully considered.