asked the Minister for Health whether he has received any representations from the Limerick County Council regarding the acquisition of the hostel at Foynes as a sanatorium or chest hospital; and, if so, what action he proposes to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foynes Hostel.
No recent representations have been made to me by Limerick County Council about this matter. On the 3rd January, 1948, however, a letter was addressed from my Department to the County Manager, Limerick, asking him to have the question of the acquisition of Foynes Hostel and its conversion into a tuberculosis hospital considered by his council. In the event of the acquisition a grant was promised not exceeding 75 per cent. of the cost of purchase and conversion. The council, at a meeting on the 24th January, 1948, decided, after examination of the premises by their medical adviser, that they would not approve of the acquisition of the premises either jointly with the Limerick County Borough Council or otherwise, because they considered them unsuitable for use as a sanatorium or chest hospital.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether he has made proposals to the Kerry County Council regarding the utilisation by that body of the hostel at Foynes as a sanatorium or chest hospital, and whether he had any previous consultations on the matter with the Limerick County Council or the Limerick County Medical Officer of Health.
On 18th February, 1949, a letter was addressed from my Department to the County Manager, Kerry, informing him that I was examining the question of the suitability of Foynes Hostel for conversion into a temporary chest hospital for patients in Munster. The letter inquired whether the Kerry County Council would be prepared in principle to adapt the hostel and run it as a chest hospital until other permanent accommodation for thoracic surgery would be available. The account of the previous consultation on the matter with the Limerick County Council and the Limerick County Medical Officer of Health is given in the reply to the Deputy's other question regarding Foynes Hostel.
I am now satisfied that the hostel would not be suitable for conversion and agreement in principle has now been reached with the Limerick County Borough Council on the making available of additional accommodation in the City Home and Hospital for adaptation as a thoracic surgery unit. It has, therefore, been decided not to proceed with the Foynes project.