asked the Minister for Health in respect of the past three years the number of beds available and occupied in public mental hospitals under the aegis of the Eastern Health Board; and the daily cost per patient.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Mental Hospitals.
12.
I have not information regarding beds available at different dates but the total number of beds occupied in the last three years was: 1969, 3,071; 1970, 2,928; 1971, 2,853.
Particulars of the average daily cost for 1969 and 1970 are as follows: 1969, £2.02; 1970, £2.51.
Costings for 1971 are not yet available.
13.
asked the Minister for Health whether his Department have any plans for the improvement of district mental hospitals throughout the country; and if he will indicate what form these improvements will take.
14.
asked the Minister for Health the number of district mental hospitals requiring improvements in this country; and when his Department envisage these improvements will be completed.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
The improvement of mental hospitals is a continuing process and the improvements needed may vary from normal maintenance work to complete replacement. The improvements needed will also vary in different parts of the same hospital. It would be impossible, therefore, to answer the Deputy's question without a detailed examination of every building in every mental hospital.
In connection with the debate on the Estimate for my Department, I have circulated for the information of all Deputies a statement showing all major hospital building projects, including those at mental hospitals, which have been recently completed or which are at the building, tender, or planning stage. A similar statement was circulated last November in connection with the Estimate for 1971-72.