asked the Minister for Education the annual grant to each of the four medical schools in each of the past five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants to Medical Schools.
79.
I presume that the four medical schools referred to by the Deputy are those of the three Colleges of the National University of Ireland and of Trinity College.
My Department does not make grants to particular faculties as such. It accords the annual grant en bloc to each College and its allocation as between the different faculties is a matter for the College concerned.
Is there not another school, apart from the three Colleges of the National University and Trinity College?
There is, but the Deputy referred to the four medical schools.
That was my mistake.
If the Deputy wants to know about the College of Surgeons, the position is that for about 20 years past a grant has been made, but it has always been recognised as merely a token grant. It is not in the same category as those given to the universities. At present it is about £8,000 a year.
It would not buy a forceps.
The College of Surgeons never regarded it as other than a token contribution and that is confirmed by the fact that it was only three or four years ago they asked for an increase.