asked the Minister for Health if he will state what quantity of granite or other native stone is to be used in the building of the Drimnagh and Ballyowen hospitals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drimnagh and Ballyowen Hospitals.
Mr. Brady
I assume that the first hospital referred to in the Deputy's question is Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. The planning of this hospital has not been the subject of detailed examination in my Department except in the early stages. I understand, however, from inquiries that stone will be used only in the provision of columns at some entrances and that the quantity of stone will be comparatively negligible, having regard to the size of the contract.
I am advised that the use of a limited amount of stone at Ballyowen Sanatorium will be confined almost exclusively to the main entrance.
Mr. Brady
Will the Minister not consider it desirable in these big contracts to use a much larger amount of native stone, considering the position of the industry at present? The only hope of the people engaged in that business of continuing in business and continuing the number of stone-masons in this country is contracts of this kind. I should be glad if the Minister would consider that in the future.
Arising out of the Minister's reply and referring to a reply given by the Minister for Health in regard to Galway Hospital, wherein the Minister for Health indicated that window-sills would not be made of stone, I would ask the Minister to consider as a matter of national importance and as a matter related to the employment of our stone workers that as much stone as possible be used in these hospitals.
I sympathise entirely with the point of view put forward both by Deputy Brady and by Deputy Cowan. The difficulty is the additional cost involved. I think the difficulty of the Department of Health in these matters is to try and utilise the money to the best advantage, in such a way that they can provide the maximum degree of accommodation possible. In the case of the Galway Regional Sanatorium for example, to which Deputy Cowan referred, the additional cost involved in using stone sills would have been £20,000—that would represent an additional £20,000 to the cost of this hospital. It is obvious that that would reduce the capacity of the Department to make additional rooms available or to provide additional accommodation in other ways. While I sympathise entirely with the viewpoint expressed on the matter I think the position is that you have to try to provide the best accommodation possible at the lowest price possible.
Mr. Brady
Arising further out of the Minister's reply, is the Minister aware that one reason why the native dressed stone is so costly at present is that a number of these quarry men have been so reduced in business that they are not in a position to equip themselves with modern up-to-date machinery for the dressing of this stone? If they got any kind of encouragement through big contracts they would be in a position to produce stone at a much cheaper rate. At present, the industry is rapidly declining. It is so serious that there is danger that young stone-cutters will not be employed at all.
I think that the real problem as far as the stone-cutters and contracts of this kind are concerned is the development of pre-cast concrete sills and pillars. The stone work can only compete where it is utilised for decorative purposes rather than utilised for utilitarian purposes.