Vol. 183 No. 10
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £33,260 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1961, for the Expenses of the Maintenance, etc., of Patients in Dundrum Asylum (8 & 9 Vict., c. 107; and No. 19 of 1945)."
I wonder could the Minister tell me what is the present position in regard to staff and boarders in Dundrum at the moment? How many inmates are there now?
The number of patients is 85 and in regard to the number of staff, I just have not got the Estimate at the moment.
Is it in the Book of Estimates?
It is.
It is probably the same number.
The position is that there was an increase of two over last year but I just cannot put my finger on it. I have it now. The total number is 84.
That is 84 staff?
84 staff and 85 patients.
Will something be done about it?
I wish we could do something about it but it is not easy.
I know it is a problem.
It is not easy to solve it. We have to keep some of these unfortunate people under restraint but in the Bill which I introduced today and which we shall consider next session there is a clause which will make it possible to send suitable patients to local mental hospitals and not have them committed to Dundrum.
