asked the Minister for Health if she will make a statement on the proposed new hospital at Tallaght, County Dublin.

The new hospital at Tallaght, County Dublin will be one of six major general hospitals which are being developed to cater for Dublin and surrounding areas. The catchment area of the hospital will have a population of approximately 300,000.

The Tallaght Hospital Board which will be responsible for planning the new hospital was appointed in March of this year. I estimate that it will take about five years to complete the planning of the hospital.

I understand that the planning will be completed in 1986. Could the Minister make an educated guess as to when the actual building will be ready?

I am afraid I could not give an educated guess on that.

Am I right in saying that it will be just paperwork up to 1986.

It will take about five years to complete the planning of the hospital.

Will the Minister keep in mind the approach adopted by the previous administration when dealing with Beaumont hospital. As I am sure the Minister will recall, planning was completed within a year and the whole hospital planned, completed and opened within the time scale which she is now allowing for the planning alone of Tallaght hospital. Does the Minister not see a very clear contrast between the approach of her administration and that of our administration in the building of necessary major hospitals in Dublin city?

I do not accept that. As far as Beaumont is concerned I understand the plans of the Regional Hospital in Cork were used. I will certainly bear in mind what the Deputy says.

I am sorry, I cannot hear the Minister.

I will take note of what the Deputy says. I cannot hear him very well either, with all our acoustics.

Would the Minister agree that a period of the order suggested is far too great for the whole new township which has developed around Tallaght? Would she consider the suggestion made by Deputy Haughey that she look at the programme which was adopted in Beaumont which would drastically reduce the planning phase to ensure that the building would take place in a much shorter time because the demands and the need will far outweigh the capability of the other hospitals on the south side of Dublin in that period?

I accept that there is a need for a hospital of that nature. I will look at the matter to see if there is anything I can do to shorten the time span involved.

In view of the urgent need which exists in Tallaght town already, could the Minister have the Department examine the possibility of using plans from another hospital of comparable size that has already been built? This would perhaps enable building operations to commence sooner?

It could be done within one year.

In view of the urgent need for this hospital in this area, would the Minister be prepared to meet the board of this hospital in the next week or two with a view to seeing if we can speed up the drawing up of these plans? It is ridiculous that the drawing up of the plans for this hospital should take five years. It is an indication that the Government are, as in all the other matters, putting this hospital on the long finger.

I will consider any options open.