asked the Minister for Health if he will state the date on which his Department were requested by the South Cork Board of Public Assistance to sanction development on the site of the Cork Regional Hospital, and the date on which sanction was given.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Regional Hospital.
At a conference held in the Department on the 16th January, 1956, at which the local authority's technical consultants on the proposed Cork Regional Hospital project were present, it was agreed that some preliminary site development works, that is, bulk excavations for buildings, excavations for one main roadway and provision of temporary surfacing therefor, etc., could be carried out in advance of the main contract as these would not affect the tendering for the building work and would not result in any increase in cost. The architects undertook to have the matter taken up with the local authority, as it was desirable that any such work should be put in hands as soon as possible in order to avail of the favourable weather during the summer months. Subsequently, on 19th May, 1956, the South Cork Board of Assistance requested the sanction of the then Minister to the acceptance of a tender for the carrying out of preliminary site works at the Regional Hospital. Sanction was given on 1st June, 1956.
Is the Minister aware that this sanction involved the expenditure of something between £8,000 and £10,000 and that letters written to his Department in August and from August to December, of the same year, were not replied to, for the reason given by the Minister here, that financial stringency prevented them from paying 50 per cent. of the cost of 50 beds? Fifty beds in August—and £10,000 to throw in a mudhole in May.
One does not want to disclaim responsibility for the no doubt well-considered actions of previous Ministers; but the Deputy will understand that I am not the Minister who was personally concerned in the matter. However, apart from that, I do not understand the relevance of the supplementary question.
Surely the Minister understands the relevance of his Department sanctioning the expenditure of £10,000 on something that they did not intend touching for the next 20 years again—for it is 20 years under review—the Cork Regional Hospital. Some £33,000 has already been spent on it; yet the Minister's Department could not find 50 per cent. of the 50 beds two months afterwards.
The Deputy is making a speech.