asked the Minister for Health the amount of money being spent on renovation to the County Hospital, Mallow, County Cork; and if he will give a breakdown of how it is being spent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mallow Hospital.
8.
I assume that the Deputy has in mind the scheme of improvements on which work has commenced at the county hospital. This scheme comprises adaptation works to provide accommodation for seven ward sisters, radiographer, anaesthetist, and five doctors, including two flats for married doctors; extension to nurses' dining room, new chapel and mortuary; new ambulance garage and new boiler-house.
The total estimated cost of the building work, including services, based on the approved tenders is £91,000. This sum does not include professional fees and supervision or the cost of any furnishings that may be considered as necessary. Detailed information is not available in my Department regarding the distribution of the cost between the various elements of the scheme but the Deputy might address his inquiry on that point to the Southern Health Board.
Is the Minister aware that last week he refused to answer questions such as this question? He said the information could be got from the health board. Is he prepared from now on to answer this type of question?
It is a question of a different classification.
Last week the Minister told us that any information that could be got from the health boards would not be given by him. He said that Deputies could get it by writing to the health boards. The information on this matter could be got from the health board. The Minister has changed his mind inside a week. Is it because a Fianna Fáil Deputy asked the questions today and it was Opposition Deputies who asked the questions last week?
Nothing of the kind. This matter deals with the question of a grant from the State for improvement of a hospital scheme, which was made available and discussed long before the health boards were brought into operation.
Could the information not have been got from the health board?
It could have been.
Is this the same attitude which the Minister adopted when he was asked questions about CIE?
That is a separate question.
It is in the same line of country.