asked the Minister for Health what credit balance was carried forward by the Carlow-Kildare Mental Hospital Committee on the 31st March, 1959, 1960 and 1961 respectively; and whether particulars of such credit balances were submitted to the members of such Committee in each such year when they were framing their demand on the county council for the following year at their estimates meeting.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Credit Balances of Carlow-Kildare Mental Hospital Committee.
11.
The aggregate balance to the credit of the contributing authorities at each of the dates referred to as shown in the relevant abstracts of accounts of the Joint Mental Hospital Board are £12,740, £13,660 and £18,904, respectively. I am informed that these balances were abnormally high due to the fact that a considerable debt arising from extraordinary expenditure had to be provided for on revenue account pending decision as to its ultimate financing, and that the credit balances have since been substantially expended.
The balances to credit or debit of the contributing bodies in respect of any financial year are not ascertained until the abstract of accounts of the Mental Hospital Board for the year has been completed, normally some three months after the close of the year. As the annual estimates must be submitted to the Mental Hospital Board some three months before the commencement of the financial year to which they relate, that is to say about six months before the actual debit or credit figures are available, it is not possible to supply the Board with these figures when the amount of the demand on the County Councils is being determined. I am informed, however, that, in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the information furnished annually to the Board in connection with the estimates and the determination of the demands on the contributing bodies included the estimated balance to the credit or debit of each of the County Councils at the end of the then current year.