asked the Minister for Health the reason a second consultant has not been appointed to the Department of Haematology in Galway Regional Hospital, despite the recommendation by Comhairle na nOspidéal six years ago that such an appointment was essential.
Written Answers. - Appointment of Hospital Consultant.
46.
In April 1980 Comhairle na nOspidéal approved a second post of consultant haematologist at Galway Regional Hospital, but no appointment was made at the time. Under revised arrangements which came into operation in 1983 the application for this post has to be reprocessed by Comhairle na nOspidéal and before doing so the financial arrangements for funding the post have to be cleared by my Department. The total cost of funding this post is about £38,000, but the Western Health Board is able to redeploy only £13,000 for this purpose and I do not have available to me the additional resources which would be required to fund the appointment. If the board can arrange to redeploy an additional £25,000 the financial clearance for the post will be issued by my Department and a formal application to create an additional post of consultant haematologist at Galway can be made to Comhairle na nOspidéal.