THE Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, turned the sod yesterday for a £7.4 million interim redevelopment at University College Hospital, Galway, after the formal signing of contracts for the work.
Construction work will begin next Tuesday on the five storey extension, which will provide extra beds, a new accident and emergency department, two additional X ray rooms and various support services. It is expected to be completed in December 1998.
Mr Higgins said that people had to decide whether health care and education or tax relief was more important. "In five or 10 years' time, as we look around, it will be interesting to see whether we have a decent level of health care or the lowest level of taxation in the western world. I'd like to think we can strike an even balance. We can't have both," Mr Higgins added.