asked the Minister for Health if he will state the estimated cost at current Dublin retail prices per item, per head, per week and the total cost of each of the dietary scales relating to the Dublin Board of Assistance and the Grangegorman Mental Hospital Board given by him in replies of the 30th October and 6th November, 1957, respectively.
Written Answers. - Cost of Dietary Scales in Dublin Institutions.
I have no figures for average Dublin retail prices for a date later than mid-February last. The information requested by the Deputy, based on mid-February figures, is as follows:—
Dublin Board of Assistance.
|
Children |
Adults |
|||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Bread |
1 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
|
Milk |
6 |
6¾ |
3 |
8½ |
|
Butter |
2 |
0½ |
1 |
10¾ |
|
Tea |
2¼ |
11¼ |
||
|
Sugar |
2¾ |
2½ |
||
|
Cocoa, etc. |
5 |
11¾ |
||
|
Rice-Tapioca, etc. |
3¼ |
½ |
||
|
Flake Meal or Oatmeal |
3 |
6 |
||
|
Eggs |
1 |
1½ |
4½ |
|
|
Fish |
8 |
8 |
||
|
Potatoes |
10½ |
1 |
5¾ |
|
|
Peas |
— |
1¾ |
||
|
Onions |
1¼ |
1 |
||
|
Total cost of items shown |
14 |
3¾ |
14 |
2¼ |
As explained in my reply of 30th October' 1957, figures in respect of vegetables other than potatoes, peas and onions, are not readily available. In regard to meat, the cost would depend on the cuts used which vary from day to day. Further, much of the meat is bought in carcase form and consequently a retail price cannot readily be ascertained. It is estimated, however, that in the case of adults, if all meat of the dearer types and cuts were issued in any week the approximate cost at retail prices would be 4/6, and if all meat of the cheaper types and cuts were issued the figures would be about 3/-. The weekly cost would lie between these figures. The cost in the case of children would lie approximately within the same range.
Grangegorman Mental Hospital.
|
Item |
Male |
Female |
||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Milk |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
Bread |
4 |
2¾ |
4 |
2¾ |
|
Beef |
7 |
7½ |
6 |
4½ |
|
Mutton |
6 |
5¾ |
5 |
2¼ |
|
Bacon |
3 |
1¼ |
2 |
7¼ |
|
Fish |
10¾ |
10¾ |
||
|
Potatoes |
2 |
11½ |
2 |
11½ |
|
Vegetables |
1 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
|
Beef, Mutton, Bacon or Eggs for evening meal |
3 |
2 |
||
|
Eggs and bacon or sausage for evening meal |
3 |
2 |
||
|
Tea |
1 |
1½ |
1 |
1½ |
|
Sugar |
7½ |
7½ |
||
|
Butter |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Rashers |
5 |
11½ |
5 |
11½ |
|
Eggs |
9 |
— |
||
|
Jam |
5 |
5 |
||
|
Coffee |
— |
9½ |
||
|
Flour |
½ |
½ |
||
|
Friday's Breakfast: |
||||
|
Eggs |
4½ |
4½ |
||
|
Milk |
2 |
2 |
||
|
Oatmeal |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Pudding Ingredients: |
||||
|
Milk |
7 |
7 |
||
|
Beef Suet |
¾ |
¾ |
||
|
Dripping |
1½ |
1½ |
||
|
Rice |
½ |
½ |
||
|
Cornflour |
¾ |
¾ |
||
|
Bread |
1¾ |
1¾ |
||
|
Eggs |
2¼ |
2¼ |
||
|
Jam |
1½ |
1½ |
||
|
Custard |
2½ |
2½ |
||
|
Dried fruit or equivalent substitute |
9 |
9 |
||
|
TOTAL |
£2 9 |
1½ |
£2 6 |
1½ |
NOTE: Figures in respect of vegetables other than potatoes are not readily available and those in respect of meat vary according to the type and cut supplied. The costs shown for these items must, accordingly, be regarded as approximate. In my reply of 21/11/57 the estimated cost of meat was based on figures obtained regarding the amounts actually supplied in a particular week. I now find that in the week taken (the week ended 6th November, 1957) the Friday was not a day of abstinence so that the amount of meat supplied was greater than normal. The figures now shown are based on the amounts supplied in the course of a normal week. In addition, due to incorrect information furnished to my Department, the cost of milk was overstated by 10½d.