asked the Minister for Health if he authorised expenditure by the Mid-Western Health Board of moneys from their budget in upgrading and enlarging a voluntary maternity hospital at Cahercalla, County Clare; if, as a result of a change in medical administration policy following a reduction in the health estimates an exgratia payment has been offered to the religious order in control of the voluntary hospital as compensation for not proceeding with the original proposal; the amount of money, if any, which has been offered and accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cahercalla (County Clare) Hospital.
186.
An arrangement was approved some years ago whereby the Sisters of St. John of God would provide an extension to their private hospital at Cahercalla to allow for the provision of maternity services on behalf of the Mid-Western Health Board. The capital cost of the scheme was met in part from public funds and in part from funds raised by the order.
As a result of the declining number of births in the region the health board decided to discontinue the use of the facilities at Cahercalla. The annual saving to the board resulting from this discontinuation is in excess of £600,000.
The board have now agreed to make a once-off payment of £300,000 approximately to the order, in view of the capital costs incurred by the order in providing the extension.