Vol. 285 No. 1
asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to sanction the conversion of the new building at Saint Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, for use as a geriatric unit, for which plans are understood to have been submitted to his Department on 3rd December, 1974.
36.
asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to sanction the conversion of Saint Enda's Building, Saint Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, into a medium stay unit for which final drawings are understood to have been submitted on 3rd December, 1974.
37.
asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to sanction the conversion of the admissions block at Saint Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, into a modern acute admission unit for which detailed costings were submitted to his Department on 18th July, 1974.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 to 37 inclusive, together.
These projects will be considered for inclusion in the capital programme for 1976 in the light of the capital provision allocated for the hospital building programme for that year and the degree of priority afforded to each of these schemes by the health board.
Replying to an earlier question by Deputy Haughey the Minister said he accepted the opinion of the Eastern Health Board, but the opinions of the Western Health Board on the efficiency of the Ballinasloe Hospital and the making of conversions are essential. That board applied for sanction on 3rd December, 1974. Would the Minister consider that it is unduly long to have to wait for such essential schemes?
I agree that all these improvements are desirable but they will not be included for 1975.
Whether they can be included in 1976 is a matter for consultation between the health board and the Department of Health. These three projects will involve quite a sizeable amount of money.
My information is that these conversions are absolutely essential. If they were not essential they would not have the sanction of the Western Health Board. In some of the cases an application for sanction was made on 3rd December, 1974. I do not think these matters are being given the consideration they deserve. The Minister is not now giving me an assurance that they will be dealt with in 1976.
I cannot give that assurance. The total cost would be £500,000.
Will the Minister give an assurance that these projects will be sanctioned in 1976?
I cannot do that. This matter would have to be dealt with in conjunction with the Western Health Board. I do not know if these three projects are at the top of their priority list.
Would the Minister state where was Ballinasloe on the priority list for 1975? These proposals have been submitted since 1974.
Item 2, namely, the conversion of St. Enda's Unit, is rated No. 3. Item 1—the improvement of the admission block—and item 3—the new building—are rated Nos. 14 and 15 respectively.
I am calling question No. 38.
May I ask the Minister a final question on this matter? There are three question involved here.
I appreciate that but the Deputy has been allowed a considerable amount of latitude.
Deputy Kitt asked a very important question. Would the Minister state when No. 14 on the priority list is likely to be undertaken? We have been asked to get some definite information. We do not put down questions very often—we only put down important ones—and this matter is important as far as the hospital in Ballinasloe is concerned. Will the Minister give me some information about this matter?
As far as I am aware it is the Western Health Board who determine their priority list in accordance with the allocation given to them for capital development.
The Western Health Board have given the three projects top priority.
This is leading to argument. I have called the next question. We must have some finality on these matters.
I merely want to get some information. There are three questions involved here.
Question No. 38.
