asked the Minister for Health whether trial borings as requested by his Department have now been completed by Kerry County Council on the site for the new county hospital at Tralee; if so, if he will now state if both his Department and the County Council are satisfied that the site is suitable; and when the local authority will be in a position to seek tenders for the erection of the hospital.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tralee Hospital.
4.
Since the site was acquired for hospital building purposes tentative suggestions have emerged at local level involving the appropriation of a substantial section of the site for the building of a major roadway. I am advised that if this suggestion is implemented it could have a considerable impact on the proposal for the erection of the new hospital. A meeting has been arranged between officers of the council and of my Department to discuss the matter generally. This will take place next week.
When a final decision has been taken on the question of the road proposal it will be possible to come to preliminary conclusions as to what might seem to be the most appropriate section of the site on which to build the hospital. Supplementary borings will then have to be made in the area provisionally selected before final decisions can be taken.
Planning of the hospital is proceeding. Outline schedules of accommodation have been prepared and are being considered by the council. It is not possible at this stage to say when tenders can be invited but every effort will be made to have planning finalised as quickly as possible.
Since this site was purchased more than five years ago, surely both the Department and the local authority should have been able to decide in that time that the site was suitable for a new general hospital?
I have just told the Deputy it is now proposed to build a road along part of the site. I have no responsibility for that.
The Minister has stated that supplementary borings will have to be made before a decision is taken. Are the Department satisfied that the site is suitable?
It is not the responsibility of the Department. If they chose to build a road through part of the site then some new area will have to be examined as the site of the hospital.
I am asking the Minister if he is satisfied that the site is suitable for a new general hospital in County Kerry.
The site is generally suitable.