asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the Cork County Council, by a majority of five, refused to sanction the raising of a loan by the South Cork Board of Assistance for the purpose of building dispensary residences in Ballinspittle, Kilbrittain, Ballygarvan and Cloyne; and, seeing the necessity for such residences in the central parts of the dispensary districts referred to; and seeing that the raising of the loan would impose no burden on the ratepayers, will he either (1) insist on the county council carrying out their obligations to the dispensary doctors and the sick poor of the areas in question, or (2) facilitate the South Cork Board of Public Assistance so that they may be enabled to carry out these necessary works without depending on the county council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of Dispensary Residences.
No official intimation has so far reached my Department of the refusal of the Cork County Council to sanction the application of the South Cork Board of Public Assistance for permission to obtain a loan for the purpose of building dispensary residences. As regards the latter part of the question, I have no information before me to support the statement that the raising of a loan for the building of such residences would impose no burden on the ratepayers. I am always prepared to facilitate the carrying out of any proposals that are shown to be necessary for the relief of the sick poor, but I cannot authorise the South Cork Board of Public Assistance to undertake any work the cost of which is intended to be met out of borrowed money, until the consent of the Cork County Council and the Corporation of Cork has been obtained by the Board of Assistance in accordance with Section 4 of the Local Government Act, 1927.