asked the Minister for Health if the Western Health Board submitted a proposal to his Department in April, 1974 for the provision of a 50-bed acute unit for the mentally handicapped at Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway; and, if so, when he proposes to sanction it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Hospital.
24.
The Western Health Board submitted to my Department the proposal referred to by the Deputy.
This proposal is only one of many projects from all areas of the country before my Department for the provision of accommodation for mentally handicapped persons, children and adults. Because of the limited financial resources available to me, I cannot at present enter into any commitment in regard to it but I shall be considering it when deciding on further programmes of development in the mental handicap field.
Are the words the Minister has used equivalent to saying that the proposal is postponed indefinitely?
Not necessarily.
Do I take it that "not necessarily" means it is postponed?
I think the Deputy will understand that as far as units like this are concerned, hospitals and additions and improvements to hospitals cost an enormous amount. What might be a priority in one area need not necessarily be a national priority. If one were to carry out all projects, the cost would not be tens of millions of pounds but hundreds of millions of pounds.
Am I correct that the project in this case would cost about £500,000?
The capital cost would be about £11 million and the revenue involvement of the Exchequer would be about £3 million.
Is the Minister certain that the figures are correct?
I am sorry. The figure I gave is for all such proposals throughout the country.
Is the Minister saying in effect that work will not be started next year?
In discussions with the CEOs and the health boards such projects will be considered in the light of the allocations made to them.
25.
asked the Minister for Health if the Western Health Board submitted a tender for the provision of X-ray facilities, a second orthopaedic theatre, a recovery room and a plaster room at Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway; the date on which it was received by his Department; and when he proposes to sanction it.
The works referred to constitute a single scheme for which a tender was submitted by the Western Health Board and received in my Department on the 2nd October, 1974.
With regard to the final part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply on the 22nd October, 1975, to a similar question by Deputy Hugh Gibbons.
Is the Minister aware that extra equipment is lying in the pack still unopened in Merlin Park Hospital? This equipment has cost many thousands of pounds but there is no place to put it. It may well be out-of-date by the time space is found for it. Would it be possible to have a director in the Minister's Department who would liaise with the health boards, who would agree with them on a set of priorities in the various areas and who would set down the time limit for different projects?
That appears to be a separate question.
It should be possible to establish a set of priorities in each case. If this were done, there would not be a situation where expensive equipment is lying unopened. Because the equipment is not available for use in Merlin Park Hospital, special X-rays are being passed to the Calvary private hospital. Does the Minister consider this is a good idea when the equipment is available in Merlin Park?
It is true that the equipment is in the hospital and that payment for it has been recouped to the Western Health Board.
Someone has to pay the money but the equipment is not being used.
Another consideration is the cost of the other facilities which the Deputy queried.
Would the Minister not consider my suggestion that a director might be appointed in his Department in order to establish a set of priorities for each health board, setting out a time limit for projects?
I have told the Deputy he is raising a separate matter.
At the moment it is on a haphazard basis and it is costing the country more money.
The health boards themselves determine priorities. There is continuous consultation between the Department, the CEOs and members of the various health boards regarding the actual priorities. The health boards have priorities but the Department must also have priorities having regard to the national scene.
What about the equipment that is just lying there for many months with nowhere to put it?
It was because the financial situation changed in the meantime.
We are having constant repetition on this matter. I am calling Question No. 26.