asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he can state what is the position now with reference to the proposed building of a county hospital in Longford and if he can state if there is any likelihood that the county might lose the money which was allocated for that purpose, and if he will specially set this sum aside for the County Longford and direct the local authority to proceed with the work.

The local authority are at present negotiating for the purchase of a site for the hospital by agreement. If the hospital is built within a reasonable time and if funds are available the usual grant will be given. It is hardly reasonable to expect that money would be set aside until the project has taken more definite shape and the actual cost is known. It is not considered desirable to give a direction to the local authority to proceed with the work having regard to the fact that they are experiencing difficulties in their efforts to obtain a suitable site.

Arising out of the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary, I wish to ask whether he is aware that there are several other suitable sites available in the immediate vicinity of Longford; that these sites have been inspected by Department officials; that the hospital shortage in Longford is very serious, and does not the Parliamentary Secretary think that directions should be issued to the local authority to acquire one or other of these sites and proceed with the work?

I am not aware that a suitable site is available to the local authority at a reasonable price. As soon as a suitable site is available at a reasonable price the local authority will proceed with the work.

Arising out of that reply might I be permitted to assure the Minister that there are two suitable sites available at reasonable prices? If the Minister is not aware of that I am prepared to give him the information privately.

I shall be glad to have any information the Deputy may have as to the availability of suitable sites, but I might point out that the site that would appear to the Deputy to be suitable might not appear so to the technical advisers of the Department of Local Government and Public Health.

Might I inform the Parliamentary Secretary that I am informed that the technical advisers of the Department have seen those sites and have advised that they are suitable?

Is it not a fact that a sworn inquiry was held into this matter and that these alternative sites were either not approved of or suggested at the inquiry?

That is so.