asked the Minister for Health when work will commence on the proposed regional hospital at Galway.

The building of the main medical and surgical block will involve the demolition of some of the existing buildings and before this work can be undertaken it will be necessary to evaluate these building and provide alternative accommodation for the patients. Proposals for this end are at present under examination and I hope it will be possible before long to find a solution.

The necessary extension of the nurses' home and the maternity unit which are not dependent on the demolition work are in process of being planned.