asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether proposals in connection with (a) the erection of a maternity wing; (b) the improvement of the heating and the water system, and (c) the erection of a lift, in the Dingle Hospital, County Kerry, have been received in his Department; and, if so, on what date they were received, and when it is proposed to approve of them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dingle Hospital.
Proposals for additional maternity accommodation (five extra beds) were originally received in the Department in May, 1942. The project was revived in January, 1947, and planning was undertaken with the approval of my Department. The proposal for a maternity extension includes the installation of a service lift, and I assume that this is the lift which is referred to in the Deputy's question. No objection has been raised to this proposal. Following consideration of the heating of the proposed new unit, proposals for an extensive overhaul of the heating system were submitted in July, 1948, and were approved in principle on 15th September, 1948. The local authority then proceeded with the planning of the building extension and of the improvements to the heating and hot water system, and the present position is that comments on the following documents submitted on the 18th February last were conveyed to the local authority on the 27th instant.
The documents referred to are: Specifications for the building of the maternity extension and for hot water heating system and hot and cold water; tender forms for the building work and the heating system and hot and cold water services; plans for heating installation; plans for hot and cold water services.