andMr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the total assets of the Hospitals' Trust Fund; (b) the amount invested and the annual income from investments; (c) the amount required to meet the deficits of the voluntary hospitals in the current year, and (d) the amount available for capital expenditure on 31st December, 1949.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospitals' Trust Fund.
The latest balance sheet in respect of the Hospitals' Trust Fund shows that on 31st December, 1949, the total assets of the fund stood at £9,060,713 16s. 11d.
The amount invested as at 31st March, 1950, which is the latest date for which a figure is available was £8,140,729.
The income from the investments held by the fund amounted to £330,520 17s. 11d. for the year 1949. It will be appreciated that the income arising from investments is not a fixed one but varies with the amount invested.
It is not possible to say what the deficits of the voluntary hospitals will amount to in 1950. The estimated figure for 1949 is £474,000.
The full amount of the fund is available for capital expenditure.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the full £9,000,000 is available for capital expenditure?
That is correct.
Is the Minister aware that there is an undertaking that the deficits of the voluntary hospitals will be made available from the investment fund of Hospitals' Trust moneys and that, therefore, if the full amount of the fund is available for capital expenditure these deficits will have to come out of taxation?
Is the Minister further aware that, in reply to a question which was put by Deputy Byrne, the Minister told him that all the capital funds were allocated for capital work?
If Deputy Briscoe's supplementary question is intended to convey that the deficits of the voluntary hospitals are in jeopardy, I should like to reassure him and the House that that is not so. I am sure he will agree that it would be extremely unwise to keep vast sums invested in uncertain conditions instead of utilising them.
I did not suggest that the income to the voluntary hospitals to meet the deficits was in jeopardy. As a result of the answer which the Minister has given, would he not agree that at the present time the deficits are met out of income accruing to the investment of Hospitals' Trust money, and that if this money is used up on capital expenditure the deficits will in future have to be met out of taxation?
I am sure it will be agreed that it is unfortunate that a lot of this capital money was not utilised for the purpose of building hospitals some years ago, instead of our having to build them now, because it would have been possible to build then at a much lower figure.
Is the Minister not aware that an Act was passed by this Parliament specifically making provision for the retention of a certain amount of the money to be invested for the purpose of assisting towards the upkeep of voluntary hospitals and that, since the increases in the hospitals have brought extra increases in their upkeep, it was expected that the previous method of supporting them, namely, voluntary subscription, would disappear? That Act was passed by this Parliament deliberately to provide for the deficits which would ultimately accrue.
I can assure the Deputy that whatever legislation was passed by this House will be strictly observed by the Government and the different Departments of the Government.
Mr. MacEntee rose.
Possibly I might be allowed to conclude before Deputy MacEntee injects his bitterness? In so far as I can understand the purport of Deputy Briscoe's supplementary questions, they are intended to suggest that the Government should not proceed with the building of hospitals that are urgently required.
Deputy Briscoe asked the Minister how the deficits were to be made up.
Answer the question fairly, you crooked rogue.
Deputies
Oh!
Question No. 36.
Mr. Byrne
I would draw the attention of the Chair to what Deputy Smith has just said to the Minister for External Affairs. Must Deputy Smith not apologise? The Chair may not have heard what he said but I did.
The new Ceann Comhairle.
I was proceeding to put a supplementary question when the Minister informed me that he had not finished his reply.
I am sorry, Deputy.
That is merely a preamble. Are we to gather from the Minister's statement that it is the policy of this Government to build hospitals and institutions, without making proper provision for their maintenance when they are constructed?
It is the policy of this Government to make adequate provisions for the treatment of those who are sick in this country.
Deputies
Hear, hear!
It is not being done.
That is not an answer to the question which I asked.
Question No. 36.