asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of that part of the Report of the Inquiry into the administration of the institution held on 9th October last, dealing with the calling in of outside assistance, it is intended to sanction payment of £70 to the Engineer of the Tirconaill Mental Hospital for outside assistance obtained in adjustment and repair of the washing machine in the Hospital, and which was approved of at meeting of the Mental Hospital Committee held at Letterkenny on the 14th instant?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TIRCONAILL MENTAL HOSPITAL.
The sanction of the Minister for Local Government is not required by law before payments in connection with repairs in a mental hospital are made. The Committee of the Tirconaill Mental Hospital appear to have had some doubt as to their liability for a sum of £7 1s. 3d. charged by a contractor in respect of a fitter's time, who was employed without a proper order in repairing a laundry machine. The Committee were satisfied that the work could not be carried out by any of their employees, and have censured the officer who engaged outside assistance without their explicit authority.
Arising out of that question, I will read, for the information of the Minister, the following extract——
The Deputy cannot read an extract for the information of the Minister.