asked the Minister for Health if he will state when it is hoped to erect the central hospital in West Cork which is now long overdue.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Cork Central Hospital.
A central hospital in West Cork will be provided by means of a substantial extension to the existing hospital at Bantry. An architect for planning the extension has been appointed by the council and approved by me. The local authority forwarded an outline schedule of the accommodation which they considered desirable for the extended hospital. I approved, in December last, with some modifications, of the accommodation proposed and the council have agreed to these modifications.
I have requested the council to proceed as quickly as possible with the preparation of a revised detailed schedule of accommodation and to forward this schedule to my Department for examination.
When this schedule has been approved it will be necessary to have sketch plans prepared and approved and then working drawings, specification and bills of quantities. The Deputy will appreciate that I could not state exactly when the erection of the buildings will be commenced, but I can assure him that as far as my Department is concerned the planning will be pushed forward vigorously.
While the Minister cannot tell me the exact date on which the erection of the buildings will be commenced, can he give an assurance to my constituents that the building will commence some time this year?
I am afraid I could not give the Deputy any guarantee. It would be dependent on too many factors over which neither I nor the local authority has any control.
In view of the fact that the position might arise in that constituency where there would be some kind of emergency, the people in the Beara peninsula might have to travel a distance of 90 miles for operative treatment and, in these circumstances, will the Minister recognise the extreme urgency of this matter?
I agree that there is extreme urgency in relation to the erection of a hospital there, and I can assure the Deputy that it will be provided with the greatest possible speed.