asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the failure of the Hospital Commission to reach any decision in the matter of Sir Patrick Dun's, Mercer's, and the City of Dublin Hospitals is causing grave inconvenience to the public, and whether he can say when a decision will be arrived at.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amalgamation of Hospitals.
The Deputy has been misinformed in this matter. The organisation of hospital services in Dublin is receiving careful attention at present, and a decision will be reached without avoidable delay.
In what regard have I been misinformed?
The Hospitals Commission have not delayed the report. They published it two years ago, or nearly two years ago.
I refer in my question to "the failure of the Hospitals Commission to reach any decision in the matter..." Possibly it is the failure of the Minister to make any decision in the matter that is causing grave inconvenience. Can the Minister give us any approximate date when he will make a determination of this matter?
It does not entirely rest with me. There are certain matters that have been submitted to committees of hospitals which are under consideration by them at present, and as soon as I get a satisfactory reply from them I hope to be able to issue some decision at an early date.
So that really the present delay is in part due to the fact that the hospitals are themselves considering questions raised by the Minister?
Yes.