asked the Minister for Health if the contractor has now handed over St. Francis' home for the aged at Newcastle, Galway; and, if so, when this new home will be opened.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Home.
1.
I understand that St. Francis' Home for the Aged at Newcastle, Galway, has recently been handed over to the Western Health Board by the building contractor. It is a matter for the health board, having regard to budgetary considerations, to decide when this home will be opened, but the board have been informed that it will not be possible to allocate additional funds to it in the current year to enable the home to be opened.
Will the Minister not agree that this disgraceful neglect shows up starkly the lack of planning by him which is necessary if socially desirable objectives are to be achieved? Further, will he reconsider his decision and make the necessary funds available so that the home may be opened and receive the many people who wish to take up residence there? It is a home for the elderly which was completed recently and it will deteriorate rapidly. Is the Minister aware that a matron has been appointed for some time and that she occupies the home on her own?
Will the Deputy please put a brief question?
Is the Minister aware that a mini-bus has been provided to transport the residents to the home when they are appointed? This mini-bus has been presented by a local voluntary group but it stands idly by. It cannot be used because the home cannot receive the residents——
The Deputy may not embark on a speech by the pretence of putting a supplementary question.
I am afraid I cannot accede to the request by the Deputy that extra money be made available. As I stated, if the board consider it is possible within their own budget they can provide for the opening of this home. So far as the western region is concerned, it has not done badly in the last few years so far as the establishment of welfare homes is concerned.
Is the Minister aware that in the last number of years no home has been opened in County Galway?
I am talking about the Western Health Board area.
Is the Minister aware that plans for a home at Carraroe were scrapped——
That is a separate question.
Is the Minister aware of the appreciation of the people in the city for the establishment of such a fine home? For years Fianna Fáil did nothing. There is much appreciation of what the Minister has done.
Does the Minister appreciate that there is a greater need for this type of home in the western region than in any other region? All the hospitals and homes in the western region——
It is because the Gaeltacht was so neglected by Fianna Fáil that we are now in this desperate situation.
Order. I would ask Deputy Coughlan to desist.
I appreciate that there is a need, as Deputy Hussey has pointed out. I am merely saying that if further economies could be effected within the Western Health Board region it would be possible to open the home. It is up to the board to decide if that is the case. As far as I am concerned, in the present circumstances I am afraid I cannot give another allocation of money to open it.
I will allow Deputy Molloy a brief question. I have allowed a lot of latitude on this matter.
In the submissions made by the Western Health Board to the Department money was sought for the opening of this home because it was known it would be completed early this year. The Minister's allocation was much below the sum sought for the running of this service.
The Deputy is making a statement.
The Minister cannot put the blame on the Western Health Board. Will he agree that he refused to provide the money to open the home? There is no way in which the Western Health Board can open it. There is a psychiatric unit in the regional hospital which has been completed but which cannot be opened. There is also a rehabilitation institute at Mervue which cannot be opened——
Order. I must ask the Deputy to desist. I am calling Question No. 2.
There is an intensive care section——
I have called Question No. 2.
I am not satisfied with the reply I received from the Minister. If the Chair is not going to allow the Minister and myself——
If the Deputy would only obey the Chair we could have some progress.
Yes, but I do not want to have to bring up this matter on the Adjournment.
I am not putting the blame on the health board. I am saying that if they can do this within their own budget——
They cannot.
The Deputy must appreciate that there was a reasonably good increase in the amount allocated to the Western Health Board in that they got 13 per cent extra over what they got last year.
They got £2,500,000 less than they needed to maintain the services.
The Deputy has talked about estimates. It is not unusual to examine the estimates to see where economies can be made. This is the exercise that is being carried out now.
This home is a sad monument to the Minister's incompetence and lack of concern. He will hear more about it.
Question No. 2.