asked the Minister for Health the present position regarding the design and planning of a new geriatric unit in Carlow.

A planning brief for a 100-bed geriatric unit at Carlow has now been completed.

I cannot, however, at this time say when it will be possible to commence the next stages of planning. The health capital programme is under review by the Government in the context of its general review of public spending.

That is a similar answer to that given to the previous question, that the few pounds needed for the design and planning of a geriatric hospital in Carlow which is so badly needed there because the present premises is an old military barracks dating from the nineteenth century will not be allocated and will not be available?

I do not accept that.

But there was a commitment given.

There were a lot of commitments given——

There was a commitment given to the South Eastern Health Board that the money would be available.