asked the Minister for Health if his Department have received an application from the South Eastern Health Board to sanction plans for the construction of a health centre at Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny; if these plans have been sanctioned; and when the money will be provided for the construction of this health centre.

My Department have not received an application from the South Eastern Health Board for approval to the provision of a health centre at Graiguenamanagh but I understand that the health board intend to provide a new health centre for this area, and the board hope to be in a position to proceed with the building of the centre next year. The project will be financed from the board's allocation for minor capital schemes, the selections and carrying through of which do not require my specific sanction.

I appreciate that the Minister may not have this information but has he any idea of the catchment area of this proposed health centre and the population within that catchment area?

The population from Graiguenamanagh to Tinnahinch is 1,303 persons, according to the last census of population in 1971, and of these 1,303 persons, 1,051 persons are located in County Kilkenny and the remaining 252 are in County Carlow.

Do the Minister's Department lay down any set of guidelines for the desirable population in the catchment area for health centres?

The structure of health centres is a matter for the health board, to be decided in accordance with local circumstances. The whole basis of the approach is that if it does not cost more than £50,000 they can go ahead with it of their own accord. We do not interfere.

I will take the matter up again with the Minister.

Question No. 24.