asked the Minister for Health whether in view of (a) the urgent necessity for the provision of new dispensaries at Kenmare, Dingle, Cahirciveen, Castleisland, Killorglin and Ballyduff, and (b) the fact that Kerry is a very highly rated county already, he will consider making a special grant available to the county council towards the erection of these new dispensaries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Dispensaries.
4.
Grants were available from the Hospital Trust Fund to health authorities towards the erection of new dispensaries in the years 1952 to 1957, the maximum grant in any case being £600. Because of the extremely difficult position of the Fund at the time, it was necessary to discontinue these grants for dispensaries begun after 1st June, 1957.
I regret that it would not be possible for me to make an exception of the Kerry County Council by making available to it, specially, grants for the erection of the six new dispensary premises referred to by the Deputy. I would suggest, however, that the council might consider meeting the cost of providing these premises by means of a long term loan from the Local Loans Fund, the repayment of which over a period of, say, 30 or 35 years, would not involve a significant increase in the county rate.