asked the Minister for Health the estimated savings to the State that will result from the closure of St. Dympna's Carlow, St. Patrick's Castlerea, and the six other hospitals due for closure this year.
Written Answers. - Hospital Closures.
84.
The closure of a hospital may involve a number of factors, such as the development of alternative services or the relocation of some patients, which would affect the net savings to be achieved by the closure. It is not possible at this stage to measure the affect of these factors on the savings which will result from the proposed closures and accurate estimates cannot yet be made on the extent of the savings or on the stage at which they will arise.
85.
asked the Minister for Health if there are any further proposals for the closure of other hospitals within the next one or two years; and, if so, if he will give details.
86.
asked the Minister for Health the additional hospitals which he intends to close in 1986.
I propose to take Question Nos. 85 and 86 together. Apart from the eight hospitals which I have already identified, I do not at present have proposals for further hospital closures in the immediate future. However, the question of continuing or discontinuing hospital or other services is kept under regular review in the light of developments in the service provided and having regard to priority needs in the context of available resources.