asked the Minister for Health whether he will take steps to ensure that a night dispensary service is provided in the various housing areas in the City of Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Night Dispensary Service.
7.
The holding of night dispensaries in the areas mentioned by the Deputy would be a matter for the Dublin Health Authority in the first instance and I have received no proposal for the holding of such dispensary sessions from that body.
Night dispensary sessions were held in the North Crumlin Health Centre at Curlew Road from 1951 until the end of 1956. They did not, however, prove a success and it was found that the numbers coming to them gradually dropped down to eight; it was also established that some of the patients attending at night could have attended the morning sessions. In view of this, the Health Authority decided to discontinue the sessions as from 31st December, 1956. Since then, I understand that towards the end of 1960 the Health Authority had the question of night dispensaries at this centre under consideration, but they decided that there was no need for the holding of such sessions.
I propose, however, to ask the Health Authority to let me have their present views on the holding of night dispensaries and I shall consider the matter in the light of their observations.