asked the Minister for Health if he will state, in respect of food alone, the cost of maintaining (a) an inmate of Grangegorman Mental Hospital, and (b) a patient in Rialto Hospital (i) at present, and (ii) in 1939.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Food Outlay.
(a) According to figures supplied to my Department the average daily cost of food per patient in Grangegorman District Mental Hospital during the year ended 31st March, 1939, was 10.37d. The corresponding figure for year ended 31st March, 1954, was 2/10.08d.
(b) In 1939 Rialto was not regarded as a separate hospital and accordingly the cost figure requested by the Deputy is not available. The average daily cost of food per patient during the year ended 31st March, 1939, in all the institutions under the control of the Dublin Board of Assistance was 1/1¼d. The average daily cost of food per patient in Rialto Hospital during the year ended 31st March, 1954, was 4/8.