asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that a site has been selected for the erection of a new county hospital at Cavan; and, if so, if he will state whether it is proposed to proceed with the erection of this hospital.

I am aware that a site has been selected and approved for the erection of a new county hospital at Cavan. As the Deputy will be aware, I have settled a short-term hospital building programme including the most urgently needed works for completion as quickly as possible and a substantial section of the work is already in progress. To avoid the danger that progress generally would be slower if too extensive a programme were attempted, a number of desirable projects such as the new Cavan County Hospital have had to be deferred for inclusion in the building programme to follow that at present in progress. I can assure the Deputy that there is no intention of abandoning the project and that it will receive every consideration when the question of settling the succeeding programme comes for decision.