asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the grave disappointment caused by his refusal to grant the necessary funds to build an extension to the Mental Hospital, Waterford; that as a result of a Government proposal of some years back over 50 more patients were taken over from the institution in Dungarvan; and, if so, whether he will reconsider his decision with a view to the early grant of the money.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Mental Hospital.
I recently received a deputation, which included the Deputy, representing the Waterford Mental Hospital Committee and I discussed the position very fully with them. My Department wrote to the committee on 25th October indicating that I am prepared to authorise a grant from the Hosgarvan Hospitals Trust Fund of 50 per cent. of the approved cost of re-equipping the kitchen, laundry and boilerhouse and further that I will implement the promise made some years ago of a grant of £5,500 in respect of certain works carried out before the war. In the light of the discussion which I had with the representatives of the committee I am hopeful that they will regard this as a reasonable approach to meeting their case taking account of the heavy commitments on the Hospitals Trust Fund to be met on urgent hospital works in Waterford and throughout the country.
Is the Minister aware that that does not meet the difficulty of providing for the extra patients in the hospital—the extension?
The position in 1938 about the extra patients that the Deputy mentions was that there were 651 patients in the hospital and in 1948 there were 616. We also had a suggestion which proved that the infirmary could be used as a hospital —an admission unit—for the present. As for the point that there may be undue congestion, I do not think one could sustain that on the figures I have just given.