asked the Minister for Health if a site for the building of an old folks home in Achill, County Mayo, has been purchased by the Western Health Board; and, if so, when he proposes to make funds available for this building.

5.

asked the Minister for Health if a site for the building of an old folk's home at Ballinrobe, County Mayo, has been purchased by the Western Health Board; and, if so, when he proposes to make funds available for this building.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. The Western Health Board has identified suitable sites for welfare homes for the elderly in Achill and Ballinrobe. The board are about to enter negotiations with a view to purchasing a site in Ballinrobe.

Finance for the building of these welfare homes will have to be considered in the light of the board's overall capital allocation and its priorities for development in the years ahead.

Will the Minister give more detailed information as to when it is likely that the board will purchase the sites mentioned in the two questions?

The board have a major ongoing capital programme. The board are currently developing Castlebar Hospital, Merlin Park Hospital, the Galway Regional Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital, the Psychiatric Day Hospital in Ballina, a major £12 million centre for the mentally handicapped in Swinford, a group home for handicapped adults in Belmullet, a group care headquarters in Shantalla and new health centres in Castlebar and Ballinasloe. These are all the priorities of the health board and the £600,000 which a welfare home would cost is not indicated as a priority by the health board.

I take it that there are no immediate plans to have the homes mentioned provided?

Not from the health board, but they are purchasing the sites.

6.