asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that a large number of dispensaries throughout the country are in an appallingly bad state of repair, many being without water or sanitary arrangements, and that the medical doctors are required to render medical aid under conditions that make it impossible for them to make even a proper examination of patients attending; and, if so, if he will, either under the proposed mother and child regulations or under proposals for legislation, make available to local authorities a special grant of part of the cost of either reconstructing these dispensaries or erecting new ones so that the administration of medical services for dispensary patients may be carried out under proper conditions and without imposing an impossible burden on the local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Dispensaries.
I am aware that the conditions existing in a large number of dispensaries throughout the country are bad.
The attention of public assistance authorities was drawn to this matter in circulars dated the 1st April, 1948, and the 5th November, 1949. In the latter circular it was stressed that if any real progress is to be made in the improvement of local authority medical services the first essential is adequate and satisfactory dispensaries.
The Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947, has operated to relieve health authorities and public assistance authorities and has resulted in the assumption by the State of a much increased proportion of the costs of the health services in the country. The total grants payable from the Exchequer towards these services for the financial year 1947-48 amounted to £911,000, while the grants payable under the Act in respect of the year 1951-52 are estimated to be £4,500,000, nearly five times the previous amount. In these circumstances, there is rather less case for the provision of special financial assistance to local authorities for the building of dispensaries than there was formerly, particularly as the expenditure is of a type appropriate to be defrayed from borrowing. I am, however, not unsympathetic towards the proposal, which I am examining at the moment. If I find it possible to give local authorities any relief of the kind visualised, I shall do it in such a way that local authorities will not secure any advantage from deferring the carrying out of the much-needed improvements.
Not to cause the Minister any embarrassment but as a point of clarification, I should like to ask is it not correct that a certain Deputy on the Opposition side made a speech two or three days ago in which he stated that there was included in the Estimate a sum of £400,000 for such work? Is that or is that not correct? I am looking purely for information from the point of view of local authorities.
There might be some confusion. There is £100,000 provided for health clinics but not for ordinary dispensaries.