asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether he has yet come to a decision in regard to the proposals submitted to him by the council of the Erinville Hospital, Cork, for the extension of the existing maternity unit in that hospital, and, if not, when a decision may be expected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Hospital Extension.
After a careful survey of the maternity hospital situation in Cork I have reached a decision on the Erinville hospital proposals which I have conveyed to the council and to the South Cork Board of Public Assistance who are also concerned.
I have undertaken to make available a substantial grant from the Hospitals Trust Fund towards the cost of building a 45 to 50 bed maternity hospital with infants accommodation on the Erinville hospital site. As provision for such a scheme had not been made in the present hospital building programme, the allocation of the grant from the Hospitals Trust Fund involves the abandonment of the proposed major extension of the maternity unit at St. Finbarr's Hospital, apart from the addition of essential ancillary facilities to the present unit. The grant outlay saved in this way will be utilised for the Erinville hospital scheme.
Much as I regret that this decision should mean the setting aside of the scheme for the extension of the maternity facilities at St. Finbarr's Hospital which had previously been agreed to in principle, I am satisfied that what is now being done is in the best interests of maternity patients in Cork.