asked the Minister for Health the hospitals that are included for development in the North Western Health Board area under the national hospital plan.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Development Plan.
13.
The general hospital development plan, which I announced on 21st October, 1975, designated Letterkenny and Sligo hospitals as the general hospitals for the North Western Health Board area—the hospitals to be extended, as required, for this purpose.
Is the Minister aware that he and all his departmental officials in correspondence with the health board say that no capital development can take in Sligo until such time as the hospital plans for Letterkenny are completed?
This is not entirely so. As the Deputy is aware, as chairman of the health board there, the board decided that Letterkenny would be their priority.
Does that mean that any capital finances that are made available at all to the North Western Health Board must be spent in Letterkenny and that none can be spent in Sligo?
This is not necessarily so. The North Western Health Board gave me a list recently of what they regarded as priorities for capital works for this year and I shall be notifying them in a day or two of the moneys that will be available to them.
Can the Minister say that capital moneys will be spent for the development of Sligo at the same time as development takes place in Letterkenny?
I think the Deputy should wait for a day or two.