asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is now in a position to advise as to the retention of the County Home at Clonakilty, Co. Cork, and whether, in view of the fact that urgent and necessary repairs to the building are held up pending his decision, he will state what that decision is.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clonakilty County Home.
The County Home at Clonakilty will be retained. The repairs referred to were not held up for the reasons stated in the Deputy's question. The West Cork Board of Public Assistance were informed in December last that while there were no funds at the disposal of the Department out of which a grant-in-aid could be made, the question of making an advance from the Local Loans Fund to meet the cost— viz., £2,000—of the works would be considered.
Would the Minister repeat? I think he said that the repairs were not held up because of the fact that the Board were not aware that the Home would be kept there? Do I understand the Minister to say that?
Yes.
I want to tell the Minister that he is misinformed. I am a member of the Board. They decided not to go ahead with the work, pending the Minister's decision. The implication in the Minister's answer is that there is a false statement in my question.
There was no reason, and there is nothing in any statement made to the Board——
That is another matter.
— from which the implication could be taken by the Board that the Home was not going to be retained there.
The Minister will remember that in the Dáil some weeks ago he said, in answer to a question, that he was not in a position to determine the future of the institution and whether it was to be retained or not. I take it that that was a bona fide reason as to why expenditure should not be embarked on.