asked the Minister for Health if he will state the reasons for the reduction in the Grant-in-Aid to the Hospitals' Trust Fund for the coming financial year of £1,000,000.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospitals' Trust Fund.
The reduction of £1,000,000 in the proposed Grant-in-Aid to the Hospitals' Trust Fund for the coming financial year, as compared with the provision in the Estimates for the current year, is due firstly to an expected increase in revenue to the fund from sweepstakes as a consequence of the very heartenlishe ing growth of support for the sweeps; secondly, to the carry-over of a security valued at £175,000 which is due for redemption in October next; and thirdly, to a somewhat slower than expected rate of progress on works under construction as well as delays in the commencement of further works included in the building programme.
Despite this latter factor, I should say that the ensuing year will be one of very great significance in the expansion of our hospital services. It should see the virtual completion of the section of the programme relating to tuberculosis which alone involves an outlay of about £10,000,000 from the fund. Major projects due for final completion during the year include the regional sanatoria at Galway, Dublin and Cork and Ardkeen chest hospital. Other major hospitals due to come into operation during the year include Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin; St. Luke's Hospital for cancer at Rathgar; Galway and Limerick regional general hospitals; Cork Orthopædic Hospital; the addition of Rialto Hospital to St. Kevin's as a general hospital; Manorhamilton and Cahirciveen hospitals; the provision of 320 extra beds at Grangegorman and Portrane Mental Hospitals and 1,000 additional beds for mental defectives at Drumcar, County Louth; Lota, County Cork; Clonsilla, Dublin; and Celbridge, County Kildare.
As an indication of the fact that there is no slackening of the effort to press on with the programme, I might mention some of the more important projects on which building work should start during the next financial year: the new St. Laurence's Hospital; the major improvement scheme at Steevens' Hospital; Cork Regional General Hospital; Limerick Regional Maternity Hospital; Kilcreene Orthopædic Hospital; the County Hospitals at Letterkenny, Dundalk and Longford; the extension to Bantry Hospital; district hospitals at Dungloe and Carndonagh. In addition, a number of important improvements to the mental hospitals should be put in hands during the year.
What is the estimated increase in revenue?
Our estimate of receipts from the sweepstakes was £1,000,000. It looks as if it will be more than that, about £1,500,000.
Would that be a more accurate estimate than the Minister gave in respect of social welfare last year when he was 92 per cent. out?
Will the Minister include that reply in his election address?
Is it not very good?
I thought the Minister felt he was in Mount Street and not in Leinster House.
Will the Deputy write a letter to the Kerryman and point out these things?