asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the deplorable state of the building industry in County Galway; and if the Government will provide the necessary finance for the following projects that have been deferred: three units at Merlin Park for the Western Health Board, and the Brothers of Charity building at Clarinbridge.
Written Answers. - County Galway Projects.
382.
I presume the Deputy in referring to three units at Merlin Park is concerned with the scheme for the provision of new orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park Hospital. The previous Government made no provision in the capital programme for this scheme nor for the scheme at the Mental Handicap Centre at Clarinbridge, County Galway.
I cannot, at this time, say when I will be in a position to make funds available to enable work on these schemes to begin. I am keeping both schemes under review so as to allow building to commence as soon as circumstances permit.
425.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if, in view of the deplorable state of the building industry in County Galway, the Government will provide the necessary finance for the following projects that have been deferred: Bord na Móna factory at Ballyforan and ESB sub-station at Monivea Road, Galway.
No money was allocated from Government funds for the Ballyforan project by the previous Government. The provision mentioned in the Public Capital Programme for 1982 of £8.4 million for the proposed Ballyforan briquette factory was merely an indication that Bord na Móna were permitted to borrow that amount without any consideration by the then Government of the board's ability to borrow and finance this sum.
Since I took office as Minister I have had a series of meetings with the chairman and chief executive of Bord na Móna and I am now happy to say that the Ballyforan project can proceed. Drainage work and site clearance on the project has already started and I expect that construction work on the factory will begin this autumn.
In the case of the ESB sub-station, I have been informed by the ESB that the board have no plans to build a sub-station at Monivea Road, Galway.