Vol. 324 No. 4
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health the further documentation and/or planning, if any, which requires preparation before tenders can be invited for Cavan's new general hospital; the reason for the delay in preparing these documents and inviting tenders to date; and when it is proposed to invite tenders for this hospital.
14.
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health the cash allocation for the new general hospital at Cavan for 1979 and 1980; and the amount spent in 1979 and 1980 to date.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
Developed sketch plans have been completed for the proposed new general hospital at Cavan.
It will be necessary to prepare working drawings, specifications, final cost plan, and bills of quantities before tenders can be invited for the project.
It has not yet been possible to allow the health board to proceed to these final stages of planning in view of the current constraints on public expenditure, but I am reviewing the situation in the context of the capital allocation for health projects for 1981 which will be decided shortly.
It was estimated that the funds required for the Cavan Hospital project in 1979 would be £200,000. However, due to difficulties with site development works which were then in progress expenditure in that year only amounted to £55,609.
Provision has been made for expenditure of up to £300,000 on the scheme in 1980 and of this amount expenditure of £177,840 has been incurred to date.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that the Minister has refused sanction for the preparation of sketch plans notwithstanding the fact that his predecessor told me tenders would be invited by mid-1980? Is it not further a fact that, as a result, the time schedule for the erection of this hospital has been thrown back by at least 12 months?
Because of some of the circumstances on the site and in relation to development, there was some delay. I have given the Deputy my reply on my personal position. I am reviewing the situation in the context of the capital allocation for health projects for 1981 which will be decided shortly.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that an application was made to the Minister for permission to proceed with the sketch plans, working drawings, and so on, that the Minister's Department refused that sanction and, as a result, this work has been held up?
I tried to make that clear in my reply. The next stage has not been refused. It is being considered currently in the light of the estimates for the coming year.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister be frank and agree that if it has not been refused it has been postponed?
It has not. It is under active consideration.
A final supplementary.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister might come clean.
Does that not mean that it is being held up in the Minister's Department? Is it not a fact that at the date of the change of Government the Beaumont Hospital and the hospital in Cavan were at the same stage, that since then the Beaumont Hospital, which is in the Taoiseach's constituency, has been proceeded with and that it is estimated that it will be completed in 1982, that £13.4 million has been allocated to it and been spent on it and that a miserable sum of £55,000 plus £177,000, has been spent on the Cavan hospital where there is a crying need for a hospital, as the next question will show?
Question No. 15.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Let the Minister answer.
The Deputy is aware that Beaumont hospital was started urgently in 1978 as part of a jobs creation programme. I am giving urgent attention to the question of the Cavan hospital.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact——
I am sorry, Deputy.
(Cavan-Monaghan): This is very important.
Question No. 15.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I will have to raise it on the Adjournment.
I am sorry, I cannot allow——
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not a fact that on the change of Government the priority was taken from the Cavan hospital and put on the Beaumont hospital and that that is the cause of the whole thing? The Minister and his predecessor should be ashamed of themselves.
I have been endeavouring to ask a question on this as well.
