Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1963

Vol. 206 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North-East Dublin Hospital.

11.

asked the Minister for Health if he will give consideration to the provision of a general public hospital in North-East Dublin to cater for the vastly increased population of that area.

The information at my disposal does not indicate the existence of any special difficulties in the provision of general hospital accommodation for persons in the Dublin North-East area.

The provision of a hospital to meet the needs of this area would represent a very heavy financial commitment and as it would probably have to be met by the Health Authority, the expenses associated with the construction and maintenance of such an institution would bear heavily on the citizens of Dublin mainly as ratepayers. Owing to the heavy commitments on the Hospitals Trust Fund, assistance from that source could not be counted upon for such a purpose. The Fund is already providing grants for the building of a new St. Vincent's Hospital at Elm Park and for a new Coombe Hospital.

In Dublin City and County there are already 30 separate public hospitals, including fifteen general hospitals, and in my view there would be no justification, in the absence of demonstrated need, for imposing on the ratepayers the added burden of providing still another institution.

Is it possible that this question has been tabled in pursuance of a Fianna Fáil promise made during the recent North-East Dublin by-election?

Has Deputy Timmons not the right to ask a question?

Absolutely, but it is a bit stale now.

Barr
Roinn