asked the Minister for Health why a public inquiry in accordance with section 38 of the Health Act, 1970, was not held before he announced the discontinuation of a general hospital service in the County Hospital, Monaghan.
Written Answers. - Monaghan Hospital.
90.
Subsection (5) of section 38 of the Health Act, 1970, provides that the Minister for Health shall not direct a health board to discontinue the provision and maintenance of a hospital, sanatorium or home save after having caused a local inquiry to be held into the desirability of the discontinuance.
The general hospital development plan, which I announced on 21st October last, does not provide for the discontinuance of the County Hospital, Monaghan, but for its retention as a community hospital. Its discontinuance as a hospital, providing services under the Health Acts, is not proposed but rather a change in the type of services it provides.
Therefore, the provisions of subsection (5) of section 38 of the Health Act, 1970, do not apply in this case.