Laois-Offaly health centres and maintenance
Flanagan asked about an Abbeyleix dental clinic and health centre, maintenance standards, and planned centres and repairs. Haughey said Abbeyleix was being reconstructed with improved dental facilities, while the Midland Health Board was responsible for ongoing maintenance and decoration.
asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to have a new dental clinic and health centre erected in Abbeyleix, County Laois, as a matter of urgency; if he agrees that most of the health centres in Laois-Offaly have very poor maintenance standards and building hygiene; if he will insist on the appointment of permanent wholetime maintenance staff to the community care programme; and if he is satisfied that the present rate of 50p per day is adequate to ensure proper standards of hygiene at health centres.
10.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the new health centres being built and planned in Laois-Offaly; if he agrees that the present centres at Portarlington, Edenderry and Mountmellick require urgent painting externally and internally; and if he will make a statement in relation to the Portarlington centre and the action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
Comment on this
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
The provision of a dental clinic and health centre at Abbeyleix is a matter for the Midland Health Board. I understand that the existing centre there is being reconstructed and that improved dental facilities will be provided.
The health board are also responsible for the maintenance, repair and decoration of all health centres in their functional area, and necessary works are carried out as part of an on-going maintenance programme. I understand that the centre at Portarlington is scheduled for repainting this year and the board intend to provide a new centre at Edenderry to replace the existing centre.
The appointment and conditions of employment of the board's maintenance staff is a matter for the board. I do not understand the Deputy's reference to a rate of 50p per day. The part-time caretakers are paid £15 where a clinic is open for five days in the week.
Over the past two years the health board have provided new health centres at Cloghan, Banagher, Rathdowney, Newtown, Ballylinan and Mountrath and new centres are at present under construction at Sleaty, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill. In the current year the board hope to proceed with the planning and construction of centres at Clara and Edenderry. A new major health centre and community care offices at Portlaoise is being planned and a new major health centre for Athlone is included in the 1979 major capital programme.
11.