asked the Minister for Health when the report of the Departmental review group on acute hospital services will be made available to him; when he expects to be in a position to give decisions in relation to its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acute Hospital Services Report.
40.
To date I have had only one specific request in relation to hospital closures. The South-Eastern Health Board sought my consent under section 38 (3) of the Health Act, 1970, to the closure of five district hospitals and after considering the matter very carefully I gave my consent under section 38 (4) of that Act.
I will give very careful consideration to any further requests for closures which I might receive since I would remind the Deputy that primarily decisions as to the future of hospitals or other institutions rest with the authorities of such institutions, whether they be health boards, boards of management or religious orders. If decisions are taken which are rational and in accord with a reasonable scheme of priorities then I will not interfere with them except in the most exceptional circumstances. I expect that the officers of my Department undertaking the review will report to me during July.
Will the Minister admit at last that the level of allocation made to health boards and voluntary hospitals has given these organisations no choice but to close? Surely the Minister is putting the cart before the horse by making decisions about the future of hospitals before setting up a strategy review group. Will he at some stage outline for us what he means by the phrase he used in January, "There is a better way"? Will he tell us what his better way is now?
I have pointed out in this House this afternoon that we increased the allocation to the health boards by 1 per cent. Each health board got a larger allocation this year from this Government than they received last year.
It decreased——
The problem that faces the health boards is that they have to effect savings which should have been effected in the past two years because of a £55 million overrun allowed by the previous Government.
(Interruptions.)
In this House two weeks ago, the Fine Gael Party stated in their amendment to a motion from the PDs that the allocation for 1987 was the correct allocation and that the Government should not go outside it.
A Deputy
No, no.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister is misleading the House. Will he agree ——
Deputy Allen please, order. Have I the agreement of the House to deal with the last remaining Priority Question, No. 41?
(Interruptions.)
Have I the right to reply to a misleading statement made by the Minister? The reduction to the health boards was £22.8 million.