asked the Minister for Health whether he will state (a) the total estimated cost of erecting each medical officer's residence approved of by his Department since 1947, and (b) the amount of money approved by him to be expended in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Officers' Residences.
In order to speed up progress on the building programme for hospitals and allied works I decided in the case of minor undertakings such as medical officers' residences that the local authorities should be allowed to proceed with the work, on agreement being reached as to siting, without the necessity for submitting detailed proposals for my approval. A schedule of the accommodation considered desirable in a medical officer's residence is, however, provided as a general guide to the local authority.
The question of my approving the expenditure of a particular sum of money on a medical officer's residence does not, therefore, arise. I understand that the cost of the provision of these residences varies from county to county. In County Kildare the cost of providing a residence amounts to approximately £4,000 whereas in County Galway the cost exceeds £5,000.