asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state when it is proposed to erect three dormitory blocks as an extension to the existing Mental Hospital at Youghal, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youghal Mental Hospital.
I am not in a position to state when it is proposed to carry out the extension referred to at Youghal Auxiliary Mental Hospital. This is a matter which primarily concerns the committee of management. The representations recently received were made by the Youghal Urban District Council. The principal body concerned is the Joint Committee of Management of Cork District Mental Hospital of which the Youghal institution is an auxiliary. The area of the mental hospital district embraces Cork City and County and the ratepayers of both these areas would be affected.
When the improvements at Youghal were proposed it was intended that the expenditure should not exceed £200,000. That was in the year 1938. Sketch plans were subsequently submitted and it then became apparent that the expenditure would exceed £300,000. The Youghal institution provides accommodation for harmless patients and, except as a means of relieving overcrowding in the mental hospital at Cork, the scheme at Youghal could not be regarded as an urgent one. In 1940, as an alternative to proceeding at that time with the scheme at Youghal and with a view to providing a certain amount of additional accommodation to relieve the overcrowding in the Cork Mental Hospital, my Department agreed to the erection by the committee of management of a new block at the latter institution. This has now been completed and is occupied. The cost was £24,000 and it is estimated that the building so provided has relieved 50 per cent. of the overcrowding. The number of inmates in Cork Mental Hospital has fallen by 200 in the past four years.