asked the Minister for Health if he will state the average weekly cost of maintaining a patient in any of the (a) mental hospitals and (b) sanatoria under the control of a local authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital and Sanatoria Maintenance Cost.
The information is as follows:—Ballinasloe Mental Hospital, £3 4s. 9d.; Woodlands Sanatorium, £4 6s. 10d.
The foregoing figures relate to 1951/52, the latest complete year, and are subject to audit.
I understand that the question related to local authorities, not to a particular local authority.
Maintenance of a patient in any of the mental hospitals and sanatoria.
Of a local authority. You gave us only one county.
Under the control of a local authority.
Can the Minister indicate whether the two institutions he has quoted represent an average figure?
I was not asked that.
I know that.
I cannot say so. I gave the Deputy his own county. He asked for a local authority.
The Minister cannot say if the answer he gave is a fair approximate representation of the cost to a local authority?
As far as I know, it is, but I cannot say definitely.