asked the Minister for Health if his Department have any plans for taking over the complete control of voluntary hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Voluntary Hospitals.
23.
There are no such plans, nor is there any basis for a suggestion that there might be.
I would refer the Deputy to the White Paper on the Health Services and their Further Development from which I quote (Paragraph 128) "...of course, the voluntary hospitals would remain in their present ownership".
More recently, when I met the members of the Consultative Council on the General Hospital Services on the occasion of their first meeting, I made this position quite clear to them. In their Report which I have accepted in principle, they emphasise that they consider that the characteristics of the voluntary hospital system represent something of considerable value which should continue to be availed of in the future. Their recommendations for the reorganisation of the general hospital services take full account of the position of the voluntary hospitals in this field.
Can the Minister say if there is to be any restriction in grants to the voluntary hospitals from the Sweepstakes' fund?
No, it is very much to the contrary.
Would the Minister say if any arrangements are being made to have the work which is at present being done by the county hospitals transferred to the voluntary hospitals?
No, except such as comes within the terms of reference of the FitzGerald Report.