asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has received for out-patients and accident facilities and emergency accommodation at Mallow General Hospital, County Cork; and when approval will be given for the plans.

A scheme for improvements and upgradings at Mallow General Hospital which includes provision for accident and emergency and out-patient services was submitted by the Southern Health Board and is at present being examined in my Department. Approval to proceed with the scheme will have to be considered in the light of other competing priority requirements within the Southern Health Board area and the capital funds available to my Department.

This case has been before the Department since 1980 and more recently, in 1984, at the Department's request modified plans were submitted. Priority should be given to it at this time in view of the demand and of the lack of adequate facilities. Would the Minister say whether the hospital, which is very cost efficient because of the bed occupancy and duration of stay and has a credit balance at the discretion of the matron and the consultancy staff, should be allowed to use whatever resources they have at their disposal?

New plans were submitted to my Department in 1987 and we are now studying them. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, plans were previously submitted for a much larger scheme of development and because of the cost of that particular project, £5.1 million, the Department requested further plans on a reduced scale out-patient department and casualty department. Plans were submitted to the Department in March 1987 and we are studying them at present. The decision on when the work will be funded depends on the competing priorities in the Southern Health Board area.

We have now entered into the time allocated for priority questions. I will allow a brief question.

The Minister did not reply to the latter part of my question in relation to the hospital having a credit balance at this time.

It is a matter for the Southern Health Board area.