asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that there is a general demand in South Offaly for suitable hospital accommodation in Birr, and if he proposes to take action to remedy the grievance; and if he will state if any expenses have so far been incurred in connection with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Accommodation in Birr.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The erection of a new hospital at Birr was under consideration some years ago, and an architect was entrusted by the local authority with the preparation of plans. The expenditure incurred amounted to £1,474. At the time a new county hospital was proposed to be provided at Tullamore. The latter project was considered to be much more urgent, and a very liberal grant from the Hospitals Trust Fund was allocated for its provision. The commitments of the Fund then, and even at the present time, would not permit of the erection of all the hospitals which it is proposed ultimately to provide, so that there is no prospect of making any grant for a new hospital at Birr. The steps necessary to render the existing hospital more suitable for the accommodation of patients rest primarily with the local authority, and I will be prepared to consider any proposals which they may submit for that purpose. About five years ago a committee of the former Offaly Board of Health which inspected the existing hospital at Birr reported that the hospital could be put into perfect repair with a small outlay, but the board at the time did not act on that report.
Is the Minister not empowered to compel the board to act, in view of the fact that it is over 50 miles from parts of the Roscrea area, to the county hospital in Tullamore? The poor as well as the rich of the County Offaly are suffering severe hardship as a result of the hospital being in Tullamore. Birr has as good a claim, in view of its size and in view of the part of the county in which it is situated. Has the Minister not powers of compulsion?
I am afraid not. If the local authority does not do its duty, the only thing I can do would be to remove the members of the local authority, and I do not know if that would please the Deputy either.