asked the Minister for Finance why it was necessary to replace the entrance gates at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin at a cost of £2,000.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Mental Hospital Gates.
16.
The former solid timber entrance gates were 10' 0" wide by 12' 0" high with an overhead archway of brick and stone. Some years ago the Hospital authorities represented that the entrance was inadequate for the admission of vehicles bringing supplies to the Hospital.
In 1962 the need arose for the renewal of the heating plant and it was decided, in the national interest, that the new plant should be a turf burning type. The entrance gates had to be replaced, not alone to permit the entrance of the new boilers and all vehicles, including turf lorries, but also to meet a request from the Department of Health for the provision of gates of a modern type "from the progressive psychiatrical point of view."
The Parliamentary Secretary could have given that answer last week just as well.
I gave substantially the same answer last week.