Brendan Howlin
Question:7 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health when sanction will be given to proceed with the construction of the new health centre for Shannon, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon (Clare) Health Centre Project.
Sanction will be given to the Mid-Western Health Board to proceed with the development of the new health centre at Shannon as soon as capital funding becomes available. This project is regarded as a top priority and every effort will be made to include it in the approved capital programme for 1991.
Is the Minister aware that up to 400 people per week use the present inadequate facility, which is a converted supermarket? Is he also aware that the trade unions involved have served notice that they will no longer tolerate conditions there? Will he give a specific commitment that this matter will be given the required priority?
I am aware that the health centre needs to be replaced. That is why I have already told the Deputy it is a priority and that every effort will be made to include it in the capital programme for 1991.
I appreciate Deputy Howlin's and Deputy Ryan's interest in my constituency. The Minister must be aware that the current building has been condemned by the county fire officer as dangerous and that working conditions there are terrible. He must also be aware that officials of his Department gave the Mid-Western Health Board permission to issue a press release in October 1988 stating that building would commence and would be given priority during 1989. It is now 1990 and the Minister is giving the same reply, saying it will get top priority in 1991. Would the Minister consider visiting the site or sending his Minister of State, to whom it would be quite convenient?
Speeches are not in order at Question Time.
I am asking a question of the Minister. Would he or his Minister of State be prepared to visit this clinic, which is causing grave concern in my constituency, before the capital priorities for 1991 are decided on?
No two Ministers have been more available to visit parts of the country than the Minister of State at my Department and I. The Deputy will be glad to know that my colleague at the Office of Public Works has visited the clinic and informed me of its very bad state.
Deputies will agree that we have made rather sluggish progress today, which is very disappointing. Can we expedite matters? Let us try to deal with other questions which are equally important.
Due to the vicious cutback in the capital programme for health centres, the services to the general public are in many cases provided in Victorian conditions. What does the Minister intend to do about it? People in Swords, a town of 20,000 people, have to endure Victorian conditions.
The question refers to Shannon.
It is totally unacceptable.