asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in County Tipperary South Riding regarding the delay in opening of county hospital at Cashel, Tipperary South Riding; if he will state the cause of the delay and what date it is likely the hospital will be available for use.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cashel County Hospital.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The delay in this case arose owing to the necessity for the completion of the Nurses' Home before the hospital could be opened. The Home is now practically completed. Lists of furniture and equipment have been sanctioned by the Department and are now being supplied. Due to the present emergency it may take longer than usual to have all equipment and furniture provided and I cannot at present say when it is likely the hospital will be opened.
Arising out of the reply, does the Parliamentary Secretary not know that in South Tipperary £10,000 has been levied in rates this year for the carrying on of this hospital? This hospital should have been opened years ago, but according to the Parliamentary Secretary it is still there as a kind of white elephant. Nobody knows anything about it and everybody is uncertain as to what is to become of it or when it is to be opened; does not the Parliamentary Secretary know that a doctor was appointed to the job a long time ago and——
The Deputy is making a speech.
I was only trying to get something definite from the Parliamentary Secretary about this hospital.