asked the Minister for Health if he is now in a position to release to tender stage the proposals already drawn up for the provision of a new general hospital in Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The previous Government made no provision in the capital programme for commencement of work on this scheme this year. I am reviewing the matter in order to ensure that tenders can be obtained and that building will commence as soon as circumstances permit.

I am aware of the previous Government's failure to implement this proposal. Is the Minister aware that for its size this is the busiest hospital in the British Isles, that the staff are working in conditions which constantly place them under extreme pressure, that the average bed occupancy is 101 per cent and that a senior consultant, in today's Irish Press, stated that cross-infection is a serious danger for all patients in the hospital? Is the Minister aware that at the last meeting of the health board the CEO indicated that he had not heard from the Government that they intended to seek tenders for the new hospital?

I am so aware. When I was Minister for Health previously I made it my business to visit the hospital and I recognised then the difficulties under which Castlebar Hospital was labouring. I should like to tell the Deputy that in my view it was the most overcrowded hospital in the country and that is why I put it on the programme which we prepared before we left office. That is the reason why I expressed disappointment that it had not reached the tender stage, or that a contract was not committed and that it was dropped from the programme. I am anxious to have that programme restored for Castlebar at the earliest possible date.

Is the Minister aware that the Taoiseach indicated under banner headlines in the local newspapers prior to the election that he would be allowing the new Minister for Health to go ahead with this immediately? We are dealing with a matter of life and death and I should like the Minister to comment on the statement by the senior consultant in relation to the serious danger of cross-infection in the hospital due to overcrowding. It is generally known that one case of chickenpox in the hospital infected all surgical cases there recently.

That statement was made recently and I will have the matter investigated fully.

I should like the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.