asked the Minister for Health the amount paid out of the Hospitals Trust Fund towards the building and repair of hospitals in each of the last five complete financial years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospitals Trust Fund Payments.
2.
The amount paid out of the Hospitals Trust Fund in capital grants to hospital authorities towards the cost of hospital construction, equipment and improvements in the last five complete financial years was £2,975,147, made up as follows:—
|
£ |
|
|
1962/63 |
495,455 |
|
1961/62 |
682,727 |
|
1960/61 |
548,237 |
|
1959/60 |
625,779 |
|
1958/59 |
622,949 |
These figures must be interpreted with care, as the incidence of grant issues in any period may not be indicative of the volume of work in progress. At the present time, for instance, works in progress are estimated to cost 5.2 million, of which not less than £4 million will be borne by the Hospitals Trust Fund. The incidence of grant payments in respect of these works and of the remaining works in the current approved programme, a number of which are at tender stage and many in the final stages of planning, is expected to be as follows:
|
£ |
|
|
1963/64 |
700,000 |
|
1964/65 |
1,200,000 |
|
1965/66 |
1,500,000 |
|
1966/67 |
1,700,000 |
|
1967/68 |
1,800,000 |
Is the Minister in a position to say if this estimate of future expenditure includes provision for Elm Park Hospital?
It does. As I explained to the Deputy in the course of the debate on my Estimate, the work on that has already begun.
These projected figures the Minister has given would cover some of the outlay on that?
Yes, and on the new Coombe Hospital and a number of other places.