asked the Minister for Health his Department's plans for hospitals; and when it is proposed to have a general hospital provided in the Midland Health Board area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospitals' Plan.
20.
I shall make an announcement on the general hospital development programme for the country as a whole as soon as I possibly can. The position about future general hospital development in the Midland Health Board area will be dealth with in this announcement.
In view of the situation existing in the Tullamore County Hospital, particularly the over-crowding, the Minister has stated here on a number of occasions that he expected to make a decision on the matter before the recess. Will the Minister state if this has been shelved?
It has not been shelved. I will make an announcement as soon as I am ready and as soon as I can.
Is it not the situation that this matter has been shelved because of the economic state of the country, that there is no money to wire a hospital let alone to build one?
We have already had that question.
I am asking an honest question and I expect an honest answer. If there is no money in the till the Minister should tell us.
Even if the hospital plan were announced now it would take some years to plan for it and some years to have the hospitals built.
People would know where they stood.
They know now.
Do we take it from the Minister's reply that no further improvements will be carried out on county hospitals in the Midland Health Board area? They have sent the projects to the Minister but he has refused to approve them because of this great elaborate plan. It is all talk and nothing more. I know the Minister is lost for words. I have great sympathy for him. As I said before in the Dáil he is well shook.
The Minister has got the report of the board with regard to the general hospital situation in the Twenty-six Counties——
This question refers to the Midland Health Board area.
Irrespective of whether money is available, the Minister should state the outline for the general hospital plan.
The Deputy is extending the subject matter of this question which refers to the Midland Health Board area.
I did not extend the subject matter of a question but I was ruled out of order.
Will the Minister state if the Government have decided to scrap this great plan in view of the economic situation? As far as I know the Department of Health have not the money to build a hen house.
There are other questions on the Order Paper. I am calling Question No. 21.
Is the plan being scrapped?
Much more money is being spent now on health services in relation to the GNP than was spent by Fianna Fáil.
In his opening and concluding speeches on the Estimate the Minister promised an announcement with regard to this plan almost immediately. We got the impression during that debate that the plan would be announced almost immediately. Apart from the operation of the plan and providing the money, will the Minister tell us when he will announce it?
I did not make any firm promises so far as the date was concerned. I said I would do it as quickly as I could after consideration of all the submissions made.
This is leading to argument. I have called Ques-No. 21.
Will the Minister state when he will announce it?
When I am ready.
It will be when the Government are out of office.
In that event we will see how quickly the Deputy's party will act.