asked the Minister for Health when he expects to be in a position to approve of a proposal submitted by Dublin Health Authority in March, 1964 for the provision of accommodation for one hundred old people at St. Clare's Home, Ballymun, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation for Old People.
142.
Mr. O'Malley
The Dublin Health Authority inquired in March, 1964, if any objection would be raised to the planning of a new unit of 100 beds at St. Clare's Home, Ballymun. While the matter was still under examination, however, my Department was informed by the Authority that alternative proposals would be put forward; these proposals were to include the disposal of some of the land at St. Clare's to Dublin Corporation for the provision of special housing for the aged as well as the construction of extra additional accommodation by the Authority. Revised proposals have not yet been submitted to my Department.
Is the Minister aware that this was a completely separate proposal and that, in fact, there was no connection between the two proposals, that there has been some misunderstanding all during this time because the proposal to dispose of some of the land to the Corporation has no connection whatever with the proposal to provide 200 beds for the aged?
Mr. O'Malley
There must be some misunderstanding, as the Deputy suggests, because in June last the CEO of the Health Authority informed officials of my Department that the Health Authority had reconsidered their earlier proposals and that they intended to submit new proposals for my consideration. These proposals were, as the Deputy probably knows, to sell some of the land at St. Clare's to Dublin Corporation for the purpose of providing special housing for the aged and, secondly, for the Health Authority to build four 50-bed units for chronically ill or frail elderly persons needing institutional care. We did not get those proposals yet and when, in September, the Department inquired from the Health Authority, we learned that a valuation was being made of the land to be disposed of and the acting RMS of St. Kevin's was considering extensions required for institutional care at St. Clare's.