asked the Minister for Health if he will state (1) the total number of hospital beds normally available without overcrowding at the County Hospital, Cavan; (2) the number of patients at present receiving treatment in this hospital and (3) the number of patients awaiting admission to this hospital.

I am informed by the Cavan County Council that (1) the normal bed complement of the County Surgical Hospital, Cavan, is 60 beds and 10 cots; (2) the number of patients receiving treatment on the3rd instant was 70; and (3) the number of patients awaiting admission to the hospital was 100.

asked the Minister for Health if he will state if it is correct that because of inadequacy of hospital bed accommodation for male patients some of the accommodation in the maternity wards in Cavan County Hospital has been taken up by male patients; and, if so, what immediate steps he proposes to take to relieve the overcrowding and remedy the lack of accommodation in this hospital.

I am informed by the Cavan County Council that it is the practice to put male surgical cases into the two beds reserved for maternity cases in the County Surgical Hospital, Cavan, when these two beds are not required for maternity cases. I am not aware that the County Surgical Hospital is overcrowded but I know there is a waiting list of patients requiring surgical treatment.

In regard to the provision of further hospital accommodation in Cavan I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to his question on the subject on the 30th June last.

Is the Minister aware that the site for this hospital was purchased as far back as 1936? In view of the grave unemployment situation that prevails there at the moment and having regard to the Taoiseach's statement when winding up the debate on the motion of confidence, that money would be made available for important works, would he not consider sanctioning the building of this hospital?

As I told the Deputy under the short term programme of 1948, Cavan Hospital was not included but it will be possible in the near future to consider what the programme of hospital building will be as soon as the short term programme is completed.

Will the Minister consider having Cavan put on the list at a very early date?

Yes, as far as possible.