asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the widespread opposition to the removal of surgical facilities from County Wexford to another county; and if in view of this dissatisfaction he will ensure that Wexford not only retains the existing facilities but has improved surgical facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Surgical Facilities.
9.
I am aware of the considerable interest being shown by the people of Wexford in the future of their hospital services. I would like to emphasise that my Department and I share this interest and the natural desire of the Wexford people that hospital facilities of the highest standard should be available to them. Discussions have taken place between my predecessor as Minister for Health and the health authority and also with representatives of the unofficial group who are taking an interest in this problem. A very full exchange of views took place at these meetings. General agreement has been reached on the need for a new hospital in Wexford and the first section of this hospital—a new maternity unit—is already being planned. This unit will be provided urgently. I understand that it is hoped to invite tenders by the end of November.
I accept the need to improve the acute hospital services, surgical and other, available to the Wexford people. I am not at present in a position to say specifically how this should be done. It is a problem requiring further careful consideration. I am glad, however, that the provision of a maternity unit on which we can agree is to proceed urgently and I think it will be agreed that this is a right priority.
Accepting the fact that we will apparently retain our maternity facilities in County Wexford, could the Minister give a further guarantee that we will retain our surgical facilities there which is the point really at issue?
I wish to say exactly what my predecessor said on this matter—that the Fitzgerald Report has to be studied in all its implications, having regard to local needs. In my position as newly appointed Minister for Health it would be entirely wrong for me to make any comment on the ultimate implications of the Fitzgerald Report which my predecessor did accept in principle and then made the promise that he would examine the position in every area to see how far local needs could be met in relation to the inevitable concentration of specialist medicine in certain regional centres.
Do I take it, therefore, that the Minister has not come to any decision with regard to Wexford County Hospital and the retention of surgical facilities there?
No decision finally. No.
Would the Minister say whether or not a decision has been made in respect of Roscommon County Council?
That is a separate question.
I have made no decision.
I do not know whether he consulted the Minister's predecessor or not, but the Minister for Transport and Power gave the people of Roscommon an undertaking during the general election——
The question relates to County Wexford.
——that Roscommon would retain the facilities it has there. Is this true or not?
I could not make any statement on that.
I do not begrudge the people of Roscommon the county hospital——
The question of Roscommon does not arise.
I merely want to know whether or not the Minister for Transport and Power was chancing his arm or whether he got an undertaking from the Minister's predecessor that it would be retained.
(Interruptions.)