asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the Matron of the District Hospital at Gorey, Co. Wexford, has received written notice from local military officers, to the effect that the hospital must be vacated by 25th inst.; further, if this action has been authorised by Headquarters, and, if so, in view of the inconvenience that will be caused, will he take steps to have it countermanded.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - GOREY DISTRICT HOSPITAL.
The position at Gorey is that the Workhouse buildings are occupied by the military forces as a Battalion Headquarters, and have been so occupied since October last; that a small portion of the building is occupied by three or four Nuns in charge of the District Hospital, which contains four patients. At the original time of occupation the Nuns were given to understand that the whole premises would be required for military purposes, and they were allowed remain for some time on the understanding that they were securing suitable premises a short distance away.
It is necessary that Gorey be a military centre for an indefinite period, and in the concentration of troops which is going on at present it is found necessary to occupy the whole of the buildings, and it is found increasingly undesirable to have three or four Nuns occupying portion of a building which is a military establishment.
The Order at present issued is premature in that it has not been authorised from General Headquarters as required by regulation, but assurances cannot be given that the whole of the premises will not be required for occupation in the immediate future.
Can the Minister say how long more the Sisters will be left in the hospital and also if it is proposed to provide alternative premises? I think a promise of that kind was given.
Actually the whole of the premises are required at once, but the matter should have come to General Headquarters for consideration as to the date up to which the Nuns could be allowed to remain there. That matter will have to be considered now. The buildings are actually required now, I understand from the responsible officer, but due consideration will be given to the Nuns in asking them to remove themselves from the premises. It should be understood, however, that as long ago as October last the Nuns were advised it would be necessary to surrender portion of the premises occupied by them sooner or later.
Would it be true to say that when orders were served in October last by the local Officer, representations were made by the Saint John of God Nuns to the Minister for Defence, and that he promised to provide other accommodation?
I do not think so.
Still I would like to ask the Minister what it is proposed should be done with the patients there. Gorey is supposed to have 27 beds in the hospital, and certainly the Nuns should not be removed.
In the concentration of troops going on, it is found necessary to occupy the whole of the building. The actual position is that the matter has not been referred to General Headquarters and authorised by them. We now have that as being the opinion of the local Officer as to his local requirements, and the points raised by the Deputy now are matters that will be taken up by this Department with the Local Government Department, or whatever other Department is concerned with the finding of alternative accommodation.
Would the Minister give an undertaking that the Nuns will not be removed until other accommodation is provided?
I cannot give an undertaking at the moment.
Can the Minister say how long the hospital will be left in occupation of the Nuns?
The Minister has already answered that question.