asked the Minister for Health if he will state the reason for not building the extra wing to the Youghal Mental Hospital.

In a reply to a similar question from the Deputy on 11th July, 1950, the Deputy was given the reasons for not proceeding with the building of an extension to the Youghal Mental Hospital.

The Deputy can be assured that when the present short-term building programme is nearing completion, the case for the inclusion of an extension to Youghal Mental Hospital in a further building programme will be fully considered.

Is the Taoiseach aware that the mental hospital authorities acquired land in the immediate vicinity of the existing building for the proposed extension and that, furthermore, plans and contract documents were approved by the then Minister for Local Government? The persons who sold the land at that particular time are asking why the land was purchased and why, if it was purchased to provide for an extension of the existing mental hospital, it has not been put to use in the intervening ten or 12 years.

I am informed that this particular work is less urgent than many other works that have to take place in accordance with priority of urgency.