Limerick East): I am aware of the important role which Ennis General Hospital plays in the delivery of hospital services to the people of County Clare and I am committed to further improving these services. As part of the Mid-Western Health Board's acute hospital strategy of providing specialist services locally, three new clinical specialties were introduced last year to Ennis General Hospital on both an out-patient and day care basis. These were, urology, genito-urinary medicine and gynaecology.
The development funding which I provided in 1997 to the Mid-Western Health Board will enable the specialties of haematology and oral surgery to be provided locally this year. In addition, the Mid-Western Health Board hopes to recruit an additional consultant orthopaedic surgeon and this will enable additional orthopaedic out-patient clinics to be held at Ennis General Hospital.