Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 6

Written Answers. - North Western Health Board Land Sale.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

121 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) the North Western Health Board proposes to sell 96 acres of farm land attached to St. Conal's Hospital, Letterkenny, County Donegal (b) the agreed sale price is £350,000 which includes a milk quota worth £100,000, a pasteurised milk plant, hay sheds and outhouses one of which was built in 1991 at a cost of £16,000 and (c) the land in question is shown in the Letterkenny development plan as being suitable for industrial and residential use and that if rezoned for these purposes it would be worth at least £3.5 million; in view of these facts and in view of concern regarding the sales of psychiatric hospital farm lands if he agrees that it would not be appropriate or correct for him to give sanction for the proposed sale and that no proposal to sell should be considered unless or until the land has been rezoned in order to secure the maximum benefit for the North Western Health Board and the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The North Western Health Board has not submitted any proposal to my Department seeking my approval for the disposal of land at St. Conal's Hospital, as it is obliged to do under Section 89 of the Health Act, 1947. However, I have learned that the board, subject to its consideration of the outcome and my approval, authorised the chief executive officer to seek offers for the land referred to by the Deputy. I have been further informed that the chief executive officer and the hospitals standing committee of the board will both recommend to the board at its next meeting that the property not be sold.

I am not aware of any scandal associated with sales of psychiatric hospitals lands or other health board properties. Health boards are obliged to comply with strict procedures in relation to the acquisition and disposal of property and I am not aware of any instance where these procedures have not been followed fully. If, however, the Deputy has any information to the contrary he should pass it on to me and I shall have it dealt with immediately.