asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state (a) in how many and what counties county medical officers of health have been appointed; (b) in how many and what counties provision has been made for the medical inspection of school children; (c) what is the reason for the delay in certain areas; (d) whether, in view of the statutory duties imposed on the local authorities in these respects, he is taking steps to ensure that such local authorities as have not yet performed these duties should do so without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Medical Officers of Health.
(a) County medical officers of health have been appointed in the following 18 counties:—Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
(b) School medical inspection arrangements are in operation in the above-mentioned counties, and in the County Boroughs of Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, and in the Borough of Clonmel.
(c) The reluctance of local authorities in other areas to appoint county medical officers of health is understood to be due to unwillingness to initiate any further services likely to result in an increase in the local rates.
(d) As opportunity offers local authorities who have not yet appointed county medical officers of health are urged to carry out their duty in the matter and the benefits to be derived from the initiation of school medical service schemes and the reorganisation of the public health services are pointed out to them.