asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that at a conference in his Department on the 27th October, 1969, it was indicated that there was no reason why Louth County Council could not dispose of the surplus farm land at St. Brigid's Hospital, Ardee, County Louth, he will indicate why a different line of action has been taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Louth Hospital Land.
27.
It was not indicated at the conference referred to that the Louth County Council could dispose of surplus land at this hospital. What was said was that the council need not transfer to the health board property which was not solely for the purposes of the health services. This meant that the county council could retain surplus land but the question of the financial implications of this did not arise at the conference.
I dealt with these implications in a reply to a parliamentary question on 11th June, 1970, and in a letter of same date to Louth County Council. There has been subsequent correspondence with the council and the health board. I understand that the county council are now seeking counsel's opinion on the matter and in the circumstances, I do not wish to make any further comment at the present stage.
Would the Minister not agree that the statement by Dr. Hensey in reply to a question by me at the particular conference referred to indicated clearly that Louth County Council could keep, so long as they purchased it before the transfer of land, land that was not solely for medical use? Surely this intimated that there would be no financial implications in this.
We have a very valuable precedent to go on when lands sold are used for health purposes. When the lands are sold the proceeds must go for health purposes and that is the question on which there is disagreement. Louth County Council are now employing counsel and I do not think I can make any further comment on the matter at present except to repeat that I was following what I regard as a very valuable precedent in insisting that the proceeds should go towards health purposes.
Since only 80 acres of this land are necessary for medical purposes and since that amount of land is being given to the health board without charge is it not proper that the remainder of the land, almost 220 acres, should remain the property of the Louth ratepayers who paid for the land? The reply given to me by Dr. Hensey some years ago seems to indicate that such must be the case.
I could not agree with the Deputy.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.