asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of inmates of mental hospitals who are certified as fit for discharge but cannot be released because of the lack of claimants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Patients.
Under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, where the resident medical superintendent of a district mental hospital is satisfied that a patient has recovered, the patient cannot continue to be detained in the institution. The answer to the Deputy's question is, therefore, that there are no inmates of district mental hospitals who have been certified as fit for discharge and who cannot be released because of lack of claimants.