asked the Minister for Health if he will give his approval to a tender sent to his Department by Laois County Council in regard to the proposed improvement of the County Home, Mountmellick, County Laois; and if he will take steps to see that no time will be lost in having the work undertaken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountmellick (Laois) County Home.
3.
Tenders for the comprehensive scheme of improvements proposed for the Mountmellick County Home were submitted to my Department within the last fortnight and are at present being examined. I shall convey my decision to the health authority with the least possible delay.
When submitting the tenders the health authority indicated that, before taking steps to enter into contracts for the carrying out of the work, they desire to have a decision about an increase in the present loan subsidy limit of £500 a bed on capital outlay for the improvement of county homes. This matter is at present under examination but in view of the wider implications in relation to county homes schemes generally it will not be possible to arrive at an immediate decision. The decision will be conveyed to the health authority as soon as possible but, of course, it would be open to the health authority to proceed with the scheme as soon as the tender formalities are completed as the question of recoupment of loan charges in respect of sums borrowed for the purposes of this work need not arise for some little time.