asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if his attention has been drawn to various resolutions that have been passed by the Balrothery Board of Guardians and Rural District Council respecting the closing of the Workhouse Hospital, and if he has any statement to make giving his reasons for the closing of this hospital.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLOSING OF BALROTHERY HOSPITAL.
My attention has been drawn to the resolutions referred to by the Deputy. The reasons for closing the hospital are:—(1) The patients can be more efficiently provided for in the Dublin Workhouse, where there is better equipment and arrangements for their treament; (2) the transfer will not cause any inconvenience to the patients, as the ambulance arrangements are very efficient at the Dublin Workhouse; (3) the arrangement will be more economical from the point of view of the Balrothery ratepayers. The average cost in the Balrothery institution is £1 7s. a week, while the Dublin Commissioners offer to take the inmates at £1 5s. a week for hospital patients and 15/- a week for all others. In the circumstances, I considered that the expense of maintaining a separate institution at Balrothery could not be justified.