asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position regarding the setting up of a nurses' training school in Castlebar, County Mayo.
349.
Written Answers. - Castlebar Hospital.
348.
asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding the proposed extension to Castlebar General Hospital, County Mayo.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.
The general planning brief for the development of Castlebar General Hospital has been completed by a project team representative of the Western Health Board and my Department. A design team of architects and other consultants have been appointed to the project and this team have commenced the detailed planning of the hospital. This planning will take approximately two years.
While this planning is going ahead, some features of the proposed extension need to be clarified. This is being done and decisions will be taken on them as soon as possible, so that they can be taken into account in the preparation of the complete plan within the time-scale I have mentioned. One of these features is the nurse training school referred to by the Deputy. The exact form of training content for inclusion in the expanded Castlebar hospital will be influenced by the studies being made by the Working Party on General Nursing, who are expected to report next year.