asked the Minister for Health whether he has had any proposal to have Woodlands, Galway, utilised as a centre for low grade mentally defective children; and what the present position is regarding the proposal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Defective Children: Galway Centre.
8.
About the middle of last year, having considered a number of alternative uses for the Woodlands hospital premises, since they became available, which might solve outstanding health and associated problems in the Galway region, I decided in principle that special efforts should be made to have the premises used for the accommodation of female mental defectives.
Because of the nature of the work involved, the Deputy will appreciate my natural desire to secure the services of experienced religious personnel to run the institution and, since the religious orders at present engaged in this work in Ireland are finding it difficult to extend their activities beyond the stage at present projected because of shortage of trained staff and their other commitments, I caused enquiries to be made as to the availability and willingness of religious congregations experienced in the care of this type of patient, but not already operating in this country, to staff the institution. I had hoped that I had found a solution of the problem when a suitable congregation with whose heads I had been in touch, expressed their willingness, after their representatives had visited the premises, to provide the service, but unfortunately difficulties have since arisen and these difficulties may prevent the use of the premises for the purpose mentioned in the question.
May I take it from the Minister's reply that the congregation in question is willing to go ahead with the proposal?
I think that is clear from the reply.
Can I take it that any difficulty which has arisen is not one of the order or the local authority concerned?
I do not think that is a proper question to address to me.
In view of the statement of the county manager that both the county council and the Department were anxious to have this established in Woodlands, where does the difficulty lie?
I have nothing to add to the very full reply I have given.