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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Feb 1977

Vol. 296 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Dental Hospital.

30.

Mr. J. Lynch, Mr. French, Mr. Healy, Mr. G. Fitzgerald

andMr. Wyse asked the Minister for Education when work will commence on the new Cork dental hospital within the Cork Regional Hospital complex.

I am not yet in a position to specify a date on which such work may commence.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the urgency of this matter in that the building of the new regional hospital in Cork is expected to be completed in 1978? If that happens it will mean that the work force and the scaffolding will be withdrawn from the site and will have to be returned there when the regional hospital is in operation in order to build the new dental hospital. Does the Parliamentary Secretary know that the old building presently used for a dental school and hospital is in a deplorable state and that it would cost £50,000 to put it in a suitable condition? Having regard to these facts will the Parliamentary Secretary state when the Government will make a decision about when the contract may be offered for tender as all the preliminary work has been done?

I do not think the question of spending £50,000 on the existing building or any other figure which the Deputy may have in mind, arises in view of the decision which has been taken. So far as the time scale for the other buildings is concerned I cannot comment on the termination date and its relevance to this situation. Obviously this is a major project involving a substantial expenditure of capital resources and, in view of the availability of such resources, I am not in a position to say when the work will commence.

Obviously the Parliamentary Secretary is not aware of the urgency of the matter. The old building cannot be inhabited for much longer as the rain is coming through the roof. That will mean the closing down of the dental school. If it is not the aim of the Government to close down the Cork dental school, a decision should be made on a matter that has been under consideration for at least four years. All the preliminary work has been completed and it only remains for the contract to be offered for tender. The money would not be expended in the first year. Only a certain amount would be spent.

I am sure the Deputy is aware that the Minister is most anxious that this work should commence at the earliest possible date. He is making every effort to ensure that this happens. However, as I have pointed out, it must be considered in the light of the overall availability of capital resources for education.

I should like the Parliamentary Secretary to impress on the Minister the urgency of coming to a decision before the work force is taken from the main site. When the new regional hospital, which cost £8 million to £10 million, is in operation there will be a disruption of services when the new building is being erected on the adjoining site. I would also ask the Parliamentary Secretary to impress on the Minister the tremendous urgency that exists for providing proper facilities for a dental school and hospital in Cork.

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