asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that married members of the Grangegorman and Portrane Mental Hospitals staff are living in bad housing conditions in County Dublin and are not eligible for county council cottages; and, if so, whether he will take the matter up with a view to having proper accommodation provided for them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation for Staff at Grangegorman and Portrane.
The provision of housing accommodation for the staff of the Grangegorman District Mental Hospital authority is a matter for consideration by the authority itself. I understand that certain members of the mental hospital nursing staff who are not apparently eligible for county council cottages have applied to the mental hospital authority for the erection of houses on the mental hospital estate. I am informed that this matter is being carefully examined by that authority at the moment.
Will the Minister indicate when a decision will be reached in this matter? I understand that the Minister has not looked very favourably on suggestions made to him regarding houses for members of the Portrane staff. In view of the fact that they are not eligible for county council houses, I suppose they can go the same as the soldiers and Guards and industrial workers, along the roadside?
Did the Deputy say agricultural workers?
Industrial workers, I said.
I can only suggest to the Deputy that he should consider the terms of my reply more carefully. In the course of that reply I informed him that the mental hospital authority, which is the responsible authority in this case, is examining the matter very carefully at the moment. I will also suggest that the Deputy should address any further questions he may have on the subject to that authority.