asked the Minister for Health if he has any application for the installation of a kidney unit, similar to those in Dublin, Cork and Galway, from the Mid-Western Health Board at Limerick, for one of the city hospitals.

: There is no application before my Department from the Mid-Western Health Board for the provision of a kidney unit at a Limerick hospital. I understand the matter was discussed at a meeting of the health board on 2 June 1978 and the board decided that the provision of such a unit at Limerick would not be justified at present.

A hospital renal maintenance dialysis unit needs specialised staffing including a nephrologist, junior medical staff trained in the techniques of dialysis and in the complications that can arise, specially trained nursing staff, and a technician to service the dialysis machines. For these reasons dialysis units are limited to a small number of the larger hospitals in Dublin, Cork and Galway.