Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Jul 1963

Vol. 204 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Dispensary Districts.

10.

Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins

asked the Minister for Health the number of health cards in every dispensary district in County Galway on (a) 1st October, 1961 and (b) 1st October, 1962.

Mr. MacEntee

As the reply to this question is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Dispensary Districts	Number of medical cards current on 1st October
	1961	1962
Abbey	551	560
Ahascragh	274	302
Aran Islands	402	414
Ardrahan	166	152
Athenry	519	508
Ballinasloe	759	735
Ballygar	371	410
Bullaun	236	254
Carna	430	426
Clifden	757	759
Cloonbur No. 1 Area	482	470
,, No. 2,,	168	168
Dunmore	801	795
Eyrecourt	278	295
Galway No. 1 Area	1,396	929*
,,No. 2,,	1,261	1,014*
,,No. 3,,	1,422	779*
,,No. 4,,	—	871*
Glennamaddy	514	532
Gort	167	185
Headford	770	869
Inishbofin	115	105
Kilconnell	237	250
Kiltormer	234	218
Kinvarra	205	208
Laurencetown	182	174
Lettermore No. 1 Area	1,008	1,007
Lettermore No. 2 Area	470	483
Loughrea	396	400
Mountbellew	362	390
Moycullen	312	330
Oranmore	257	268
Oughterard	441	495
Portumna	340	343
Renvyle	478	504
Roundstone	309	312
Spiddle	874	949
No. 1 Area	837	840
Tuam	435
No. 2 Area	435	468
Turloughmore	1,113	1,071
Williamstown	644	646
Woodford	378	403

*A fourth district medical officer was appointed on the 18th April, 1962. The figures given are in respect of the 31st March, 1963, the earliest date on which a reliable figure could be obtained following a redistribution of the work-load amongst the four district medical officers.

11.

Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins

asked the Minister for Health the cost of medicines supplied free to health patients in the various dispensaries in County Galway for the financial years ended 31st March, 1961, 1962 and 1963 if available.

Mr. MacEntee

As the reply to this question is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Dispensary District	Medicines supplied in respect of year ended 31st March	Appliances supplied in respect of year ended 31st March
	1961	1962	1963	1961	1962	1963
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Abbey	502	608	967	57	61	81
Ahascragh	131	281	221	16	22	29
Aran Islands	83	179	503	nil	5	158
Ardrahan	125	189	199	1	1	33
Athenry	550	423	530	75	75	97
Ballinasloe	2,385	4,981	2,362	17	106	154
Ballygar	113	109	115	31	35	9
Bullaun	367	1,910	1,884	10	47	50
Carna	186	496	804	25	45	156
Clifden	447	838	618	38	50	60
No. 1 Area	325	391	281	20	28	21
Cloonbur
No. 2 Area	56	122	233	nil	10	4
Dunmore	245	575	489	32	23	56
Eyrecourt	300	247	590	4	22	12
Glennamaddy	206	183	263	nil	nil	2
Gort	72	726	1,295	4	54	16
Headford	2,026	1,850	1,995	61	77	135
Inishbofin	41	53	65	11	23	28
Kilconnell	332	197	307	33	nil	nil
Kiltormer	455	278	376	40	33	51
Kinvarra	204	207	275	26	27	20
Laurencetown	176	145	167	17	35	22
Area No. 1	142	418	386	1	5	41
Lettermore
Area No. 2	295	130	417	8	21	62
Loughrea	599	1,126	1,216	72	59	112
Mountbellew	551	1,010	566	65	90	85
Moycullen	301	407	358	nil	19	29
Oranmore	177	446	365	7	55	44
Oughterard	462	883	446	11	87	21
Portumna	360	325	340	25	29	38
Renvyle	367	434	336	29	41	77
Roundstone	412	943	1,003	25	87	2
Spiddle	1,099	816	887	2	81	61
Tuam	2,485	2,745	2,963	94	216	149
Turloughmore	689	911	1,543	139	79	51
Williamstown	507	715	821	27	14	nil
Woodford	231	171	362	nil	5	3
Galway	5,928	5,655	6,845	360	486	489

12.

Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins

asked the Minister for Health the names of dispensary districts that were filled in County Galway during the past two years with their area, population, and number of health cards at the time of their filling.

Mr. MacEntee

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

PARTICULARS of Dispensary Districts in Galway County in which the post of District Medical Officer was filled in the last two years.

Name of Dispensary District	Permanent or Temporary Appointment	Number of Medical Cards at time vacancy filled	Area (Acres)	Population*
Carna	Permanent	426	29,389	2,099
Inishbofin	Do.	108	3,264	248
Mountbellew	Do.	399	40,522	4,018
Oughterard	Do.	441	57,274	2,632
Aran Islands	Temporary	403	11,576	1,651
Cloonbur (2 vacancies)	Temporary	647	58,863	2,425
Galway†	Do.	871	21,403	25,429
Spiddle	Do.	874	63,427	3,851

* Census of Population, April, 1961.

†This Dispensary District is now divided into four areas, each with a District Medical Officer. The particulars shown relate to the filling of the vacancy arising from the creation of the fourth post.

13.

Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins

asked the Minister for Health the names of any dispensary districts that were ever abolished in County Galway.

Mr. MacEntee

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Date of Order	Name of Dispensary District abolished	Effect of Order
5th Oct., 1925	Dunmore (Lisroe) Dispensary District	The Dispensary District of Dunmore (Lisroe) was abolished and amalgamated with Dunmore Dispensary District
19th Dec., 1927	Kilconly Dispensary District	The Dispensary District of Kilconly was amalgamated with the Tuam Dispensary District.
2nd Oct., 1931	Abolition of Clonbrock Dispensary District	The Dispensary District of Clonbrock was abolished and amalgamated with the Ahascragh Dispensary District.
20th Jan., 1934	Abolition of Chilly Dispensary District	The Dispensary District of Chilly was abolished and amalgamated with Woodford Dispensary District.
17th April, 1963	Abolition of Ardrahan Dispensary District	The Dispensary District of Ardrahan was abolished and amalgamated partly with Gort Dispensary District and partly with Kinvarra Dispensary District

The above particulars cover the period from the foundation of the State.

14.

Mrs. Hogan O'Higgins

asked the Minister for Health whether a dispensary district can be reorganised or abolished when it is not vacant.

Mr. MacEntee

The answer to the Deputy's question, presuming that the reference to a dispensary district not being vacant refers to the office of District Medical Officer for the district, is in the affirmative.