asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons at a recent date, resident in county homes, stating separately the number who are chronically ill, aged or infirm mentally ill or ill; and if any children or unmarried mothers now reside in such institutions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Residents in County Homes.
83.
Mr. O'Malley
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a question asked by Deputy Hogan on 17th ultimo.
I have not information as to the number of unmarried mothers, as such, or children in the homes on a particular date but from the most recent reports of my inspectors on their inspections, on varying dates, the number of unmarried mothers would appear to be less than a dozen and the number of children about 70, most of them disabled in some way.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to break down numbers into the other categories he mentions; for example, some of the chronically ill are aged and vice versa. I am, however, in process of collecting more detailed information in regard to all occupants of county homes than is at present available and when this information has been collected, I shall supply so much of the information he has requested as it is possible to provide.