asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the urgent need for having a nurses' home and convent erected for the nuns in charge of Laoighis County Hospital so that extra beds can be provided to meet the constant demand in the county hospital; if he will assist in having building work expedited and if he will state whether any grant will be made available from Hospitals Trust funds.
Written Answers. - Laoighis County Hospital.
I am aware of the urgent need for a nurses' home and convent at Laoighis County Hospital and this project has been included in the short-term hospital building programme. The local authority have been asked to prepare a revised schedule of accommodation for this project omitting provision for a nurses' training school. I felt that such a school as was proposed at Portlaoighise would be uneconomic and in view of the increased training facilities being provided at the new regional and other major hospitals it should also be unnecessary.
In a letter to the local authority on 31st July, 1948, I indicated that the cost of this work would have to be defrayed from funds provided by the county council and I regret that the existing commitments of the Hospitals Trust Fund make it impossible for me to reconsider that decision.
I can assure the Deputy that so far as my Department is concerned there will be no avoidable delay in dealing with the planning of this project.