Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 4

Written Answers. - Tipperary Medical Services.

Peadar Clohessy

Ceist:

71 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Health when he intends to direct that Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, County Tipperary will cease functioning as an acute hospital; the funding and administrative steps, if any, he will take to ensure that medical services for the south County Tipperary area are not adversely affected by the change of use of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2900/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The first meeting of the project team to plan the developments in South Tipperary was held on 26 January 1996. The planning process for the revised arrangement of hospital services has now been initiated, but it is too early yet to give precise dates for these arrangements to become operational.

The investment programme of £12.5 million will, however, ensure that health services in South Tipperary will be brought up to the level pertaining elsewhere in the South Eastern Health Board area.