asked the Minister for Health whether he is now in a position to indicate when the building will commence of the regional sanatorium at Sarsfield's Court, Glanmire, County Cork; whether the grazing of these grounds has again been advertised for letting as from 1st March, 1949; and whether, in view of the large number of persons on the waiting list of the Cork Joint Sanatorium Committee, he will take steps to proceed with the building of this sanatorium without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Regional Sanatorium.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to his previous question on this subject on 10th December last, in which I stated that site development works were expected to commence in the present year. Since then satisfactory progress has been made with the planning of the buildings. The sanatorium will be a large one, and the amount of planning needed is very considerable.
A further portion of the lands is being let for grazing for a period of six months. This letting, as in the case of the earlier one, is terminable by me on one month's notice.
I can assure the Deputy that there will be no avoidable delay in the development of the scheme for Cork Regional Sanatorium. I am anxious, as he is, to provide the sanatorium as early as possible.
Is the Minister aware that Deputy McAuliffe presided at a meeting of the Cork Joint Sanatorium Committee on last Saturday at which Deputy Sean Keane was also present, and that the meeting unanimously passed a resolution protesting against the delaying tactics of his Department?
I am not aware of what may have happened at the meeting.
I suggest that you ask Deputy McAuliffe.
The Deputy must be aware that a considerable improvement has taken place in regard to the problem of tuberculosis in Cork since February, 1948. I may add that I consider it very encouraging indeed to find this newly found solicitude on the part of the Deputy, especially in view of the fact that between 1945 and February, 1948, he never bothered to ask a question about it.
How do you know?
I took the trouble to look up the Dáil debates.
Question 108.
Surely I am entitled to ask——
The Deputy will have to realise that the Chair is the judge of order.