asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether the discussions of and deputations to the local authority in connection with the erection of the Caherciveen district hospital have yet ended and whether the necessary sanction will now be given and the work of building at last proceeded with.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Caherciveen District Hospital.
A deputation from the county council was received by officials of my Department on the 15th ultimo and the matter of securing economies in planning was fully discussed. My Department has received no official intimation as to whether recommendations made to the deputation were acceptable to the local authority, but I understand from newspaper reports that such is the case. The planning of the hospital had reached sketch design stage and the matter of revision of the sketch design, on the basis of the suggested economies, is now one for the local authority's architect. When these proposals are received in my Department, they will be examined as expeditiously as possible but I am not in a position at this stage to give any indication as to when work on the hospital will commence.