asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to sanction the recruitment of staff for the welfare home and nursing unit at Buncrana, County Donegal.

6.

asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on Buncrana nursing unit, County Donegal; and when moneys will be made available towards the cost of paying staff to allow the unit to open.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. The opening of the Buncrana unit must be viewed in the context of the additional costs involved and the restriction on the creation of additional posts in the public service. All health boards have been directed to achieve a 2 per cent reduction in the numbers employed on 31 March 1983 as compared with the number employed on 21 July 1981. Consequently, the opening of this unit would depend on the ability of the North-Western Health Board to redeploy existing staff and resources.