asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of (a) local authority and (b) voluntary sanatoria, fully equipped to carry out the full treatment needed for the proper care of pulmonary tuberculosis including major chest surgery; and also the total bed complement of such institutions in the Republic in 1932, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952 and 1957.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equipment of Sanatoria.
The answer to the first part of the question is: (a) six; (b) three. The six local authority institutions include the three regional sanatoria, the building of which was provided for in the Tuberculosis (Establishment of Sanatoria) Act, 1945.
The answer to the second part of the question is: 1947, 416; 1952, 2,344; 1957, 3,190.
It would be necessary to examine the files and records extending back over a period of as long as 25 years to ascertain the information requested in respect of the years 1932, 1935, 1937 and 1942. I do not feel that the expenditure of time and labour involved in such examination would be justified, particularly having regard to the fact that major chest surgery, as now understood, is a comparatively recent development.