asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the number and the names of those local authorities which have submitted proposals for the reconstruction and improvement of county home buildings and surroundings since December, 1951, (b) the number of such proposals (if any) which have so far been approved by him and (c) the total estimated cost of carrying out such proposals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Home Schemes.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state, arising out of the Report on County Homes, 1951, (a) the number and names of those local authorities which have submitted detailed proposals to deal with the segregation of those classes which it was intended should no longer be provided for in county homes, (b) the date on which such proposals were submitted to him and (c) the number of such proposals which have been approved by him.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.
Schemes for the improvement or reconstruction of county homes on the lines recommended in the White Paper of 1951 were submitted by virtually every health authority concerned, and various proposals for securing segregation of certain classes were received from a number of such authorities. These proposals in many cases were submitted in sections so that it is not possible, in such cases, to indicate any particular date which might be taken as the date on which comprehensive proposals were received. Moreover, proposals in some cases were only in the earlier stages while in other cases the proposals were much more developed.
Only in one such case, that of St. Kevin's Hospital, Dublin, was a completely comprehensive scheme approved and carried through. In that case two separate institutions were adapted and equipped and provision was made elsewhere for casuals.
In a number of other instances, adaptations and improvements of greater or lesser extent were approved and carried through, e.g., Limerick City Home and Hospital, Kilkenny County Home. In another instance, a proposal for the establishment of a separate institution to cater for unmarried mothers and children from a group of counties was approved and carried through. Apart from St. Kevin's, Dublin, however, no completely comprehensive scheme had been approved before it was necessary, in the summer of 1956, to limit borrowing for such purposes. Despite this, however, work is in progress or should commence shortly on schemes which, while not comprehensive, will improve conditions considerably in anticipation of more extensive reconstruction, when adequate funds are available later.
The cost of carrying out a comprehensive scheme of replacement of county homes or their renovation was estimated tentatively at the time of the issue of the White Paper at £5,000,000. No more reliable up-to-date estimate is available.
In regard to (c) in Question No. 18, no proposal aimed at improved segregation has been turned down and, apart from specific proposals, developments in other directions have made it possible, as I have indicated in this reply, to improve the position considerably even in the absence of proposals for specific measures.