Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 11 May 1928

Vol. 23 No. 12

VOTE 42—DUNDRUM ASYLUM.

The PRESIDENT

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £7,483 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1929, chun Costaisí Coinneáil-suas Geilteanna Cuirpthe i nGealtlainn Dúndroma.

That a sum not exceeding £7,483 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1929, for the Expenses of the Maintenance of Criminal Lunatics in the Dundrum Asylum.

Mr. DERRIG

I should like to raise the question as to whether it would be possible to effect more economies in the administration of this institution. It appears that there is no Visiting Committee or a committee representing the Government who would check the administration and see that things were run in a more efficient manner. As members will notice, in the Report of the Public Accounts Committee for 1925-26 there was an over-estimate in regard to victualling in that year of £1,401 which seems to be very excessive. This year salaries, wages and allowances cost £12,716, and there is a sum of £3,716 for victualling, a considerable amount. I think that something might be done to effect a decrease in the cost of this institution. Some effort should be made to make the asylum more self-contained and to endeavour to extend the farm so that all the produce required for the maintenance of patients and attendants could be secured there. It is, in any case, a matter that requires looking into.

Mr. CORRY

I notice that there are altogether 140 patients here at a cost of £16,000. That is ridiculous. It is rather a joke. The salaries in connection with the supervision of 140 patients amount to £12,716. Surely some economy could be made in that respect.

General MULCAHY

I do not know whether a Visiting Committee, such as Deputy Derrig suggested, would do very much. Dundrum Asylum is a prison for a particular class of invalid prisoners. The number of prisoners is small and, naturally, the amount of overhead charges is just as large as if the number of prisoners was larger. The question as to whether more could be made of the farm is a matter that can get further attention. I do not know the size of the farm, or whether it is such as there would be any great possibility of raising more produce there for the upkeep of the prison than is raised at present. As I say, it is a matter that can be gone into. The general cost is kept under review. The number of prisoners is decreasing gradually, thus raising the cost per prisoner. That matter will be kept fully under review.

Vote put and agreed to.

Progress ordered to be reported.

The Dáil went out of Committee.

Progress reported. The Committee to sit again on Wednesday next.