asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding funding for the proposed new extension to Portiuncula Hospital, Galway.
Written Answers. - Portiuncula (Galway) Hospital.
322.
The proposal to improve and extend the facilities at Portiuncula Hospital is a costly one for which no provision was made in the capital programme for the current year by the previous Government. Because of the restricted nature of the site, there are some problems of a technical nature associated with the planning of this development. I have arranged for the hospital authority to meet with officers of my Department to sort out these problems as I am anxious to ensure that the best possible solution be adopted to alleviate the serious accommodation problems in the x-ray and pathology departments and also in the OPD/casualty department.
323.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the continuing fire hazard and danger of collapse of the floor of the laboratory unit at Portiuncula Hospital, County Galway, he will make funds immediately available for commencing replacement buildings.
I presume that in referring to the laboratory unit in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe the Deputy is concerned with the pathology department which is accepted to be unsatisfactory from the point of view of its adequacy to serve the hospital. It is not particularly a fire hazard.
My difficulty in regard to this problem has essentially arisen from the failure of the previous Government to make any provision for this facility in the capital programme for the current year. There are, however, other difficulties. Because of the restricted nature of the site there are technical problems associated with the planning of this development. I am concerned not only with the facilities for pathology but also for radiology, casualty and out-patients at this hospital. I have, therefore, arranged for the hospital authority to meet with officers of my Department to sort out these problems as I am anxious to ensure that the best possible solution be adopted to alleviate the serious accommodation problems in the pathology department and also in the radiology, casualty and out-patients' departments.