asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the cause of his demand for an increase in the Dublin City rates equivalent to 1/9 in the £ for the hospitals of Dublin; and, further, the amount accumulated in the Hospitals Trust Funds; and for what purpose he proposes to use the interest thereon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increased Rate for Dublin Hospitals.
I dealt with this matter quite fully in concluding the debate on the Second Reading of the Tuberculosis (Establishment of Sanatoria) Bill, 1945, on the 1st February last, and I would refer the Deputy to the Official Report thereof.
The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my question. He has answered some other question. I asked if he was aware that the demand for moneys for the Dublin hospitals is equivalent to 1/9 in the £ on rates. He is asking the corporation to increase the rates by 1/9 in the £, while he has substantial funds at his disposal through the Hospitals Trust to pay for hospital treatment for the people. Will he answer the question on the Order Paper because the reply he has given to me evidently deals with some other matter and has nothing to do with my question?
I dealt fully with this matter in concluding the debate on the Second Reading of the Tuberculosis (Establishment of Sanatoria) Bill on the 1st February last, and if the Deputy will refer to the report of that debate he will find that his question has been completely answered.
I ask for the protection of the Chair. I have put down a question and the Parliamentary Secretary has not answered one line of it. I asked him if he was aware that he is making a demand to put up the rates of Dublin by 1/9.
The Deputy may ask a supplementary question, but he has now repeated his question for the third time.
I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary has not given any answer to my question. He has merely referred me to a debate that has nothing to do with the question on the Order Paper. He is increasing the rates——
The Deputy is not asking a question.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary now if he will answer the question on the Order Paper. Will he say what he is doing with the moneys he has in the Hospitals Trust Fund? Are they not sufficient to meet the deficits of the hospitals without asking the Dublin rate-payers to accept a burden that should be borne either by the Sweepstakes or by the National Exchequer? I have got no reply to that question, and I think I am entitled to a reply.
Question No. 12.