asked the Minister for Health if he will take immediate steps to expedite the erection of an X-ray unit at Ballina, County Mayo, which is urgently required.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - X-ray Visit for Ballina.
7.
Mr. Browne
It would be contrary to normal practice to approve the erection of an X-ray unit at a district hospital such as Ballina and I am not satisfied that a departure from that practice would be warranted for Ballina.
The County Hospital, Castlebar, is the radiological centre for County Mayo and, at the instance of the health authority, I have recently approved the purchase of new X-ray equipment, costing over £9,000, for that hospital.
Mr. Browne
Is the Minister aware that Mayo County Council consider it is necessary to erect an X-ray unit at Ballina? Surely, if the county council consider it necessary, the Minister ought, in his wisdom, to consider it necessary too?
After all, the last word lies with me. I have to satisfy myself that it is necessary that we should, in fact, spend a substantial sum in addition to the £9,000 we are spending for the county hospital in Castlebar itself.
Mr. Browne
Is the Minister satisfied it is necessary to increase the X-ray facilities at Castlebar? Does he forget that Ballina caters for the greater portion of North Mayo? Would it not be much more satisfactory to have a unit erected in Ballina?
No. We have limited funds at our disposal and we have to husband them. We cannot disperse them all over the county because, if we did, we should have no adequate services anywhere.