asked the Minister for Health if he will state when it is expected that the new children's hospital in Crumlin will be in a position to provide diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Children's Hospital in Crumlin.
I am not at present in a position to say when diagnostic and treatment facilities will be available in the new children's hospital in Crumlin. I understand that building work on the hospital is expected to be completed next summer.
asked the Minister forHealth if he will state (a) the total number of beds to be provided in the new children's hospital in Crumlin for the treatment of children's ailments, and (b) whether this hospital will serve the City of Dublin only or whether diagnostic and treatment facilities will be provided for patients from all parts of Ireland.
The number of beds to be provided in the new children's hospital at Crumlin is 304. An agreement entered into in 1941 in connection with erection of the hospital provides that such number of beds as may be agreed upon from time to time between the Minister and the trustees of the hospital shall be reserved for patients from the Dublin area and such number as may be agreed upon for patients from outside the Dublin area.
asked the Minister for Health whether in the case of the new children's hospital in Crumlin there will be at least equal representation and if possible a majority of elected councillors, aldermen or Teachtaí Dála on the government body to be set up in relation to the management of this hospital.
The agreement to which I referred in reply to the previous question provides that there shall be two representatives of Dublin Corporation on the board of governors to be established to supervise the management of the hospital and that the two representatives shall be members of the executive committee of the hospital.
Having regard to the position in regard to other voluntary hospitals, I would not feel justified in recommending to the trustees of the new hospital that the agreement should be altered to provide for greater public representation.
asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that the total capital cost of building the new Crumlin children's hospital was borne by funds from the Hospitals' Trust Fund and that maintenance and running costs in the main will be paid either from the rates or from taxation, he will recommend that all consultantmedical and surgical appointments of children's specialists and all appointments to higher nursing posts will be made through the Local Appointments Commission in order to obviate the risk of undue favouritism or sectional discrimination in the making of such appointments.
Despite the circumstances mentioned by the Deputy I do not feel that I would be justified in suggesting in respect of this hospital that there should be conditions in regard to recruitment of staff different from the conditions which apply in regard to other voluntary hospitals similarly circumstanced.
Would the Minister say, in relation to the board that will run the hospital—if that is not considered a separate question—could we know the circumstances in which nominations will be made to the managing board or the board of directors of the hospital at Crumlin? How will be the nominations be made?
I am afraid I could not give an exact answer to that question at the moment. I would prefer to get notice of it.