Vol. 483 No. 2
121 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children the current position regarding funding to the Western Health Board in the 1998 capital allocations for the provision of a health centre at Roundstone, County Galway in view of the fact that the provision of this centre is top priority with the Western Health Board pending the availability of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19962/97]
As the Deputy is aware the provision of health centres in the Galway area is a matter for the Western Health Board in the first instance.
The Western Health Board has confirmed that the replacement of the health centre at Roundstone is next on its 1996-98 Health Centre Development Plan priority list, after the extension to the community care headquarters and the replacement of Ballinasloe health centre. The health board has also indicated that it currently owns a site in Roundstone where it is intended that the new health centre will be located.
My Department will shortly examine in conjunction with each of the health boards, the question of the Department's capital allocations for health centre developments for 1998 and while I am hopeful of increasing the allocations for this category, no final decisions have yet been made.
