asked the Minister for Health whether any investigations have been made by him or the Mid Western Health Board into the accommodation and surgical requirements of Ennis County Hospital during the last ten years; whether the present facility is adequate for the medical needs of County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the current crisis.
Written Answers. - Ennis County Hospital.
100.
The general hospital requirements of the Clare population are kept under regular review.
In 1981 a Project Team, representative of my Department and of the Mid-Western Health Board, was established and carried out a detailed investigation of the future accommodation requirements of Ennis General Hospital. This Project Team completed a comprehensive planning brief which covers all aspects of services, including surgery, at the hospital. It provides the blueprint to guide developments at the hospital as resources can be made available for this purpose.
In 1984 a major extension was provided to the x-ray department at a cost of £300,000. In 1985 the new maternity unit in Cahercalla was opened and the transfer of maternity patients from the General Hospital allowed additional accommodation to be made available for other services.
At present the operating theatres and surgical wards are being up-graded and this work is expected to be completed by the end of June or early July. In order to facilitate this work a temporary reduction of the bed numbers has been necessary but the full number of beds will be restored when the work is completed. With these developments I am confident that Ennis Hospital will continue to provide an adequate service for the people of Clare.
101.
asked the Minister for Health if payments of a disabled persons maintenance allowance will be issued to an eligible person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The South Eastern Health Board discontinued payment of disabled persons maintenance allowance to the person in question on 22 April 1986 when he moved to live in Arklow, which was outside the board's functional area.
The person in question should contact the Eastern Health Board in Wicklow with a view to obtaining a disabled persons maintenance allowance if he intends to reside in Arklow on a long term basis. In the meantime I have arranged for the local community welfare officer to contact the person regarding the question of paying him a supplementary welfare allowance as an interim measure.