Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cork Medical Centre.

Máirín Quill

Ceist:

69 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, that are in place to develop a pilot general practitioner centre in Cork as outlined in the blue-print for general practice in 1992 in view of the decision by the Southern Health Board not to go ahead with a £1 million general practitioners' medical centre at Mayfield, Cork; whether the £150,000 which had been committed by his Department out of its central funds to the initiative in Cork is now lost to general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2898/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I understand from the Southern Health Board that some of the doctors involved in the original development project at the Mayfield site have submitted alternative proposals for a smaller development and these are being considered by the board at present.

I also understand that the board has plans in place for a pilot project for the development of general practice in the north western part of Cork city. The board is hopeful that considerable progress will be made on this project in 1996.

The Southern Health Board has been informed that the £150,000 earmarked by the Department for the Mayfield development can be allocated towards other general practice projects in the board's area subject to the approval of the Department in relation to individual proposals.