asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future of Mallow County Hospital, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mallow Hospital.
31.
As announced recently, I have asked all the health administrative bodies, the health boards, Comhairle na nOspidéal and the Regional Hospital Boards to advise me about the development of a satisfactory general hospital system.
I hope to have the advice of the different bodies by the end of the year. I intend then to proceed to settle a reasonable programme of hospital development after consultation with my colleagues in the Government.
The Deputy will understand that in the circumstances it would be premature for me to make any specific statement about Mallow county hospital.
Would the Minister be prepared to meet a deputation from the North Cork Advisory Health Committee before making a final decision and would he also arrange that his Parliamentary Secretary will attend the meetings of that committee of which he is still a member? We do not see him at all now.
I do not want to appear to be disrespectful to the Deputy, or to anybody, but I do not think I should receive any deputation in view of the communication I sent to the regional hospital boards and the health boards a few weeks ago. There are certain guidelines set down in that. One of the comments I had to make about the FitzGerald Report was that it was a report, with all due respect to them, and I do not mean to slight them either, by consultants. What I am trying to do now is to give the elected representatives, plus the other members of the health boards and the regional hospital boards, an opportunity within those guidelines to give me their views as to where hospitals should be located.
Yes, but——
Deputy Dr. Gibbons.
This is——
Deputy Dr. Gibbons has been called by the Chair. The Chair must be obeyed in matters of this kind.
I know that, Sir, but I have not asked any supplementary today and this is nearer to me than——
Deputy Dr. Gibbons has been called.
Would the Minister circulate to Deputies the document which he has forwarded to the health boards?
Certainly.
The outline proposals from Comhairle na nOspidéal set a limit of a 30 miles radius for the establishment of hospitals. Does this not automatically rule out Mallow County Hospital in view of the fact that administrative bodies, health board officials and others who will meet must conform to the set of guidelines prepared by Comhairle na nOspidéal and on the basis of this Mallow County Hospital cannot exist?
It is a guideline, a suggestion; it is not a directive.
I accept that but——
We have come to the end of Question Time.
The discussion should be around these guidelines.
The remaining question will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.