asked the Minister for Health when his Department will make funds available to the Western Health Board for recruitment of staff for the geriatric assessment unit in Merlin Park Hospital, Galway.
Written Answers. - Western Health Board.
52.
The renovation work on the geriatric assessment unit is expected to be completed by the end of April and it is proposed to open it then on a limited basis. A consultant geriatric physician is employed and certain nursing and other staff are also available. The extension of the service thereafter will necessitate the employment of additional staff. In present circumstances, it is not possible to make a special financial allocation for this purpose but it is, of course, open to the board to deploy staff from other areas if this can be arranged.
53.
asked the Minister for Health the allocation, if any, given by his Department to the Western Health Board for new capital works in (a) 1975 and (b) 1976.
It was not possible to allocate funds for major new works to the Western Health Board for 1975. Of the total capital allocation of £377,000 to the board for that year, £50,000 was allocated for minor works, equipment and contingencies. No specific allocations were made for new capital works commencing in 1976 but, of course, expenditure on all completed schemes and on-going schemes and schemes in planning will be met in full.