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medical cards in the area was made in October, 1962, as a result of which six medical cards, covering 18 persons, were withdrawn; one of these cards was restored in April, 1964.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.