asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding (a) the new psychiatric unit and intensive care unit at the Regional Hospital, Galway, and (b) the proposed centre at Ballybane, Galway; and if he will state when each will be in use.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Hospital.
19.
As regards the psychiatric unit the position is that a number of medical, nursing and other staff have been appointed and the unit at present provides a daily service on a clinic basis. The Regional Hospital has a three-bed intensive care unit in operation with special equipment and trained staff. This service and staff will transfer to the new seven-bed unit later.
Due to current restrictions on financial resources it is not possible to say when the extension of use of the psychiatric unit or the transfer to the larger intensive care unit can be effected.
The planning process for Ballybane centre for mentally handicapped is almost completed and the next stage would be the approval of tenders to enable building work to commence. Capital resources for this year were such however that it has not been possible to allocate the necessary resources for this project. The matter will be kept under review in the light of the out-turn for 1976 and the capital allocation for 1977.
The Western Health Board have suffered a substantial reduction in their allocation vis-á-vis their estimate and they have complied with the Minister's request by not proceeding with the full operation of these units and other units that have been mentioned before. Is the Minister aware that even with all these cutbacks in services the Western Health Board will be short approximately £500,000 to maintain the existing services?
That is a general question to which I replied in general terms last week. I am aware there is a difference between the estimate proposed by the health board and the allocation given by the Department of Health, but I have no evidence that services will suffer. It is a fact that it is not possible to proceed this year with the projects the Deputy has mentioned and that the intensive care unit and the psychiatric unit can operate only on a day clinic basis. With regard to the Ballybane school, the position is much the same. The project will cost in the region of £1 million and its establishment is a matter that has been going on for a long time. The final plans were agreed in 1975 and when resources become available the project will be started.
I do not think Deputy Molloy was talking about more buildings. We have buildings in Galway which we cannot staff because of the shortage of money. The fact remains that the Western Health Board are short £500,000 to provide the essential services that were provided last year.
Will the Minister state if the home help service is part of the cutback operated by the Western Health Board?
Question No. 19 referred to three different units. If the Deputy wants information about them I am prepared to give it.
The Minister has no answer.
It is not relevant to the question I was asked. It is not a question of my being reluctant to answer it.