asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether it is proposed to close, or to what extent it is proposed to curtail admission to, or treatment in, the Families' Hospital at the Curragh Camp.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Families' Hospital, Curragh Camp.
The families' section of the General Military Hospital, Curragh Training Camp, County Kildare, is maintained for the treatment of the wives and children of soliders residing within the Curragh Training Camp area. I am advised that the Kildare County Council is, under the provisions of the Health Act, 1953, liable to provide institutional treatment for such persons, who are, prima facie, as dependents of persons insured under the Social Welfare Acts, persons to whom Sections 15, 16 and 17 of the Health Act apply.
I appreciate that it may not be possible for the County Council to provide alternative services immediately for soliders' dependents in the Curragh Training Camp area and in the meantime I am prepared to operate the families' section for the type of patient at present being accepted there, on the basis that the appropriate contributions will be made by the Kildare County Council.