asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that undue hardship is borne by aged patients from the Dingle peninsula when they are admitted to the County Home, Killarney, by reason of the fact that the majority of them are native Irish speakers and have very little contact with their relatives; and, if so, whether he will arrange to have a home provided for these people on the Dingle peninsula.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dingle Peninsula Patients.
I have not had evidence of special hardship imposed on patients from the Dingle peninsula.
In the White Paper issued by the Government in October last on the subject of the reconstruction and improvement of county homes, it is indicated that sympathetic consideration will be given to proposals for subsidiary institutions in the very large counties where hardship would result from removing old people to too great a distance from their friends. Any approved expenditure undertaken for this purpose would qualify for the subsidy payable from the Vote for my Department towards the reconstruction and improvement of county homes.