asked the Minister for Health whether it is proposed to establish a regional hospital in County Westmeath; if so, if he will state its location; and when building operations will commence.

I presume the Deputy is referring to a regional hospital as defined in the recently published report of the Consultative Council on the general hospital services. If that is so, the answer to the first part of the question is "no" and the matters raised in the remainder of the question do not, therefore, arise.

Does that mean that the regional hospital for that area will be situated in Tullamore and not in Mullingar? You have stated before you have only agreed in principle——

That has nothing to do with the Council's report. There was no question of establishing a regional hospital in Mullingar, either before or after the report.

Certainly there was before the report. Is it not true you have sanctioned it for Tullamore and Athlone and Mullingar are to be bypassed?

There was never any question of building a regional hospital in Mullingar.

Certainly, there was. Even Deputy Carter was told last year, when they were thinking of closing Longford hospital, that the patients there could go to the regional hospital in Mullingar. Is it not true that you are now sanctioning the regional hospital for Tullamore and that Westmeath is out of it because our patients will have to go there? Is that not true, yes or no?

That I have sanctioned it?

That the Government have sanctioned it.

That I have sanctioned it, no.

Is it not true that the Government have accepted in principle that the regional hospital for that area must be situated in Tullamore and that as far as Westmeath is concerned, we are out in the cold?

The Government have accepted in principle the recommendations of the report. As far as I am concerned, I would like to see the recommendations implemented in full, and that includes Tralee, Templemore and the rest of them.

But Westmeath is out in any case?

For a regional hospital, yes.