asked the Minister for Health whether he is now prepared to give a State grant towards rebuilding Baldoyle orthopaedic hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Baldoyle Orthopaedic Hospital.
The Hospitals' Trust Fund is the only source available to me as Minister for Health for the allocation of capital grants for hospital works. Unfortunately, the balance remaining in the fund and the probable accretions to it over the next few years will be inadequate to meet the existing commitments of the fund. In these circumstances, although I can assure the Deputy that very sympathetic consideration was given to the application of the authorities of the institution mentioned by him, I found myself unable to promise any grant from the Fund for the rebuilding scheme at the Auxiliary Orthopaedic Hospital, Baldoyle.
Will the Minister give an undertaking that if he finds it at all possible he will make a sum of money, about £30,000, available for the rebuilding of this hospital in view of the fact that it is used as a rehabilitation centre for patients who are not quite fit to leave Cappagh hospital but must make room for the many other patients awaiting entry to it? In other words, if they stayed in Cappagh patients awaiting entry would never get in there. Baldoyle relieves that position. For that reason I ask the Minister to make funds available immediately for the rebuilding of this hospital which at the moment consists of Army huts.
I am quite aware of the situation and if funds are there I will certainly make them available.