asked the Minister for Health the number of able-bodied men who have been catered for by county homes throughout the State in the past 12 months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Able-Bodied Men in County Homes.
8.
So that I may be in a position to obtain and to supply to the Deputy the precise information he requires, I would be glad if he would repeat his question in more specific terms. It will be necessary, for instance, to know whether he wishes to have casuals included or excluded. He will appreciate that one person who moved regularly round a group of counties, staying a few nights in the casual ward of the county homes concerned would be counted several times over in any data supplied to me. It will be necessary also to have a clearer definition of the term "able-bodied". Does the Deputy, for instance, contemplate that persons, say, over 70 who, while of only limited working capacity, are ambulant and reasonably able to look after themselves in the sheltered environment of a county home, should be included in or excluded from the reply?
If the Deputy puts down the question in more precise terms next week, I shall seek to obtain the information from health authorities.