asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding proposals for the provision of new buildings at Fermoy hospital, County Cork; and if the necessary capital allocation has been made available for this purpose.

Proposals have been formulated for a new 50-bed unit at St. Patrick's Hospital, Fermoy.

It has not been possible to make provisions for this development within the capital allocation for hospital building for the present year but the position will be considered again for 1977, having regard to the competing claims of other works and the priority ratings assigned to each, particularly by the Southern Health Board.