asked the Minister for Health if the sum of £4.5 million provided in the Volume of Estimates asa Grant-in-Aid for the Hospitals Trust Fund is (a) a repayable grant and (b) is to be expended on works of a capital nature.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospitals Trust Fund.
The answer to (a) of the Deputy's question is no. As to (b), the grant, when received, will be expended for all purposes for which grants from the Hospitals Trust Fund are payable. The Deputy will appreciate, of course, that the bulk of the grants from the fund are for works of a capital nature.
Can the Minister give us any idea of the proportion in the last year he has before him in which the existing fund was applied in relation to capital funds and deficits?
From memory, the total was about £4,000,000, of which £500,000 or £600,000 was for deficits.
How much of the £4,000,000 is for capital works?
Practically all, except what is paid for deficits, amounting to something over £500,000.
Can the Minister say, in the light of that, why this sum of £4,000,000 which will be spent on capital works is included in the Supply Estimates, as if it were not for capital works?
It will be treated as capital in the Budget.
Is that so?
Yes.
I thought those Estimates were fraudulent.