asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the undue delay on the part of his Department in approving the proposal by the Cork Health Authority to reconstruct Mount Carmel House, Clonakilty, County Cork, and if he will ensure that this proposal is approved forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mount Carmel House (Cork) Reconstruction.
4.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the architectural sketch plans submitted by the Cork Health Authority to my Department last February, and the consulting engineer's proposals for the heating and other ancillary services received from the Health Authority this month.
As the contribution from the Exchequer is limited to 50 per cent of the annual loan charges on approved capital outlay subject to an upper cost limit, the estimated cost of the proposed scheme is a matter of considerable significance. For the proper examination of the architectural proposals, therefore, it was necessary to obtain from the Health Authority a break-down of the estimate of building cost furnished by their quantity surveyor in February. This was asked for in March last and was received from the Health Authority last month, and the sketch plans have since been under examination in the light of the quantity surveyor's costings.
There is no justification, therefore, for alleging undue delay on the part of my Department. Arrangements, however, are being made by my Department for an early discussion with the Health Authority's technical advisers to examine the problem further for the purpose of arriving at an economical and acceptable basis on which to complete the planning of the scheme as soon as possible.
Is the Minister not aware that the Department have held up this scheme on what could be termed only a small technical point? I assume the money is not available for the work.
A small technical point? Hundreds of thousands of pounds. If the Deputy regards that as a small technical point, his notions are much more extravagant than mine.
Could the Minister say when approval will be given to finish the job?
As soon as we can find some sense of economy on the part of the Cork Health Authority.
A sense of economy on the part of Cork Health Authority? You are supposed to be driving the Cork Health Authority to spend money.
We do not want marble halls.
I do not think the Minister has satisfactorily replied. When will you approve the plans submitted by the Cork Health Authority in respect of Mount Carmel Home, Clonakilty?
As soon as my officers and representatives of the Cork Health Authority have come to an acceptable agreement.