asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will lay on the Table of Dáil Eireann a statement showing the receipts and expenditure of the Hospital Sweepstake Fund in the form of a return showing detailed receipts and expenditure to date and the present value of the fund and how it is invested.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Sweepstake Fund.
The moneys in the Hospitals Trust Fund are held by the Hospitals Trust Board under Section 23 of the Hospitals Trust Act, 1933. Particulars of the income and expenditure have been published for the period from 7th October, 1933, to the 31st December, 1937, in the Annual Reports of the Department of Local Government and Public Health and have been laid before the Oireachtas. These reports also contain particulars of the grants made each year out of the fund. Particulars of the income and expenditure for the year 1938 will be published in a similar manner. In the meantime a copy thereof will be sent to the Deputy. The particulars for the year 1939 have not yet been compiled.
As regards the present value of the fund and how it is invested, it has been pointed out on previous occasions in replies to Parliamentary questions that Ministers cannot be expected to furnish information in regard to matters for which a statutory board has full discretion and responsibility, subject, of course, to any specific restrictions imposed by law.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I want to know whether the Minister would consider asking this statutory board to furnish to him a detailed statement of the investments in which these funds are and to furnish it in a form showing the percentage of the funds in Irish Government securities, the percentage of the funds in British Government securities; the percentage in mortgages and the percentage in preference stock and in other securities.
I will have that suggestion conveyed to the Hospitals' Trust Board.
Can I trespass on the Parliamentary Secretary's time and ask him to indicate to me the result of his examination?
Yes.