asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the authority under which the Unified Society limited to four weeks the period for which they would pay for the maintenance, in Drogheda Cottage Hospital, of Robert Nugent, 84 Dalymount Cottages, Drogheda; whether it is a fact that Mr. Nugent entered hospital with the knowledge and consent of the Society's local agent on January 13th and remained a patient until February 23rd; and whether he is aware that under the scheme of additional benefits sanctioned in respect of Mr. Nugent's former society there was no provision limiting the period for which maintenance was payable to four weeks: and, if so, whether he will state the circumstances in which this limitation is now imposed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Hospital Benefit.
Under the scheme for granting hospital benefit as an additional benefit the period during which payment may be made is within the discretion of the Committee of the Society. The local agent has no powers in the matter. In the case of Mr. Nugent benefit was allowed for a period of four weeks.
The amount available for hospital benefit is limited to a fixed annual sum depending on the amount of the surplus disclosed on the last valuation of the society to which the member belonged.
It became necessary for the Department in May, 1934, to draw the attention of the society to which Mr. Nugent belonged to the fact that they were overspending the amount available for hospital benefit and that they must keep within the limits of that amount.