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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1964

Vol. 213 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ardrahan (Galway) Dispensary.

4.

asked the Minister for Health if, prior to the abolition of Ardrahan dispensary district, County Galway, there was any consultation with the people of the Ardrahan area; whether or not the abolition order was preceded by an intensive drive for the withdrawal of as many medical cards as possible in the area; and if in fact some of those withdrawn were reissued after the abolition of the dispensary.

5.

asked the Minister for Health whether or not he has been requested by the solicitors representing the residents in the Ardrahan, County Galway area to furnish particulars with reference to the names and numbers of other dispensary districts stated to have been abolished; whether or not such information has been furnished by him; and, if not, whether he is now prepared to furnish the particulars sought.

6.

asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the continued widespread discontent and alarm in the Ardrahan, County Galway and surrounding areas arising from the abolition of the Ardrahan dispensary district; and if, in view of such discontent, the circumstances surrounding the abolition of the dispensary and the evident apprehension of the people in the area, he will order a sworn inquiry into the entire affair.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 5 and 6 together.

A full memorandum regarding the proposed amalgamation of the area of the Ardrahan dispensary district with the adjoining Gort and Kinvara dispensary districts, and the division of the combined areas into two dispensary districts, was furnished by the county manager to each member of the Galway County Council on 18th October, 1962. I have no means of knowing what consultations took place up to that time.

The county council, following consideration of the memorandum, unanimously resolved to request me to make an appropriate Order altering the districts. As I was acting in accordance with the unanimous request of the public representatives concerned, I saw no necessity for consultations with the people of the area, nor was any request made to me, at that time, for such consultations. After the relevant Order had been made, however, I received representations, orally and in writing, about the matter and I discussed it with a number of people, including the parish priest, Ardrahan, and members of the Oireachtas from the area. As I have already informed the House, in reply to previous questions, I considered the proposal which was made to me by the council, and on which I acted, was a reasonable one, and nothing which has since been brought to my notice has caused me to alter that view.

The health authority, whose function it is to determine eligibility for general medical services cards, have informed me that the statement that an intensive drive for the withdrawal of medical cards in the area was made, before the abolition of Ardrahan dispensary district, is without foundation. A review of medical cards in the area was made in October, 1962, as a result of which six medical cards, covering 18 persons, were withdrawn; one of these cards was restored in April, 1964. This review was not, however, connected with the proposed abolition of the dispensary district. When regard is had to the fact that the number of cards current in the district at the time was 166, it is clear that the reduction of six in the number of medical cards had no material bearing on the consideration of the abolition of the district.

On 27th August, 1964, I received a letter from a firm of solicitors, purporting to act for a number of residents in the former Ardrahan dispensary district, requesting me to furnish them with details of dispensary districts which had been abolished since 1957. Besides the names of such districts, the letter requested further details which were not readily available to my Department. In reply, it was explained to the firm that each proposal for revision of boundaries of dispensary districts is considered on its merits, and without regard to what may or may not have been done in a completely different set of circumstances in another part of the country, and that, accordingly, the information requested would not be relevant to the position in regard to the Ardrahan dispensary district.

I am advised that I have no power to cause a sworn inquiry to be held into the circumstances relating to an Order which has been made under section 51 (2) of the Health Act, 1953.

On the general question of sworn inquiries, I should explain that an inquiry of this kind cannot be ordered by me except in relation to the operation of a service provided under the Health Acts. At this stage, it would be possible for me to order a sworn inquiry to be held, to assist in determining whether it is now essential to the welfare of persons entitled to services under section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, that the area comprising the present Gort and Kinvara dispensary districts should be divided into three districts, not necessarily co-terminous with the former dispensary districts, with a doctor resident at Ardrahan. Usually the expenses occasioned by a sworn inquiry are heavy; and, as these would fall to be borne by the Galway County Council, I would not be prepared to consider what the Deputy proposes unless the council pass a formal resolution requesting me to do so.

Is the Minister aware that there is grave resentment and discontent in the area where this rearrangement of dispensary areas is taking place, and in those circumstances would it not be a rational thing to invite the county manager or the county council, whoever is the appropriate authority, to review what has been done, to consider the reaction of the local people and to advise the Minister accordingly and to say whether what has been done might not with advantage be reviewed?

I am aware that a certain amount of discontent and dissatisfaction has been fomented in that area but I have in my reply covered the ground fully and I explained the circumstances in which I could call a sworn inquiry into the existing situation in the amalgamated dispensary districts. The responsibility now does not rest with me.

I am not suggesting a sworn inquiry. I am asking the Minister would it not be within his competence, for the sake of peace and contentment in the area, to ask the appropriate authority whether county manager or council, to review the situation which obtains in the area and to say if, in their judgment, it would be desirable in the interests of the people to reconsider the dispensary rearrangement that has been made and to advise him accordingly? What is the use of everybody digging his heels into the ground about this if the people are not content and they could be made content by a reasonable reconsideration of this matter? Nobody's prestige is involved and would it not be a sensible thing for the Minister——

This is not a question; this is an argument.

I am asking if it would not be a sensible thing for the Minister to take the initiative and to say: "Look at this again and see if we have made a mistake."

One of the greatest obstacles in the way of modernising our health services, and bringing them up to the level that exists elsewhere, has been the consistent propaganda on the part of certain elements that our health services are too expensive. My task since I became Minister for Health has been to try to reorganise these health services, in order, first of all, to provide an efficient and effective service for everybody at the lowest possible price. When the Galway County Council considered this problem, they found that two dispensary doctors could do the work of three. On that basis they made a recommendation to me and I, having regard to the fact that they were the health authority for the area, and having carefully considered the matter and made certain that no hardship would be inflicted on any significant element in the community, decided to act on this request of the Galway County Council. I am faced with the situation in which I find that it is no longer the Galway County Council who are going to control the health services in County Galway and no longer the Minister for Health who will be responsible for the reorganisation of this out-of-date dispensary system, but some people down in a village in Galway.

Will the Minister kindly explain what he means by "the decision of the council"? I am a member of that council and the final decision was the restoration of the dispensary. The Minister for Social Welfare, when talking to the people of Labane, said he would make representations to the Minister. I should like to know if he has done so and what the Minister intends to do.

The Minister for Social Welfare, being a man of his word, made the necessary representations to me. But I think I have convinced him—I hope I have—that the first decision of Galway County Council was the correct one and that I, in acting on that decision, acted correctly. The resolution requesting me to amalgamate these two districts was passed unanimously by Galway County Council. I acted on that. I am not prepared to blow hot and cold. Having come to my decision, I am prepared to stand on it.

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