§ MR. A. O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is in contemplation to spend a large sum, and, if so, how much, on the District Lunatic Asylum at Letterkenny; how much is to be expended on the residence of the Medical Superintendent; what will be thereafter the total annual charge upon the rate payers of the district in respect of the asylum: and whether the Local Government Board have given their sanction to the details of the scheme?
MR. J. MORLEYAn expenditure of £26,100 has been authorised by the Privy Council on works at the Letterkenny District Lunatic Asylum to provide against overcrowding, and for other urgent and necessitous wants of the Institution. This amount includes a sum of £2,300 for a detached house for the Resident Medical Superintendent. The present residence of this officer is situated in the centre of the asylum, and occupies some of its most important space, and it has been considered desirable to utilise this portion of the building for asylum accommodation, and to erect a, now residence for the Medical Superintendent, The sum of £26,100 will be repayable to the Treasury in 20 years with interest at the rate of 3½ per cent. per annum; but the Treasury may, under the provisions of the Public Works Loans Act of last Session, extend the time of repayment to a period not exceeding 50 years. The Board of Control, 1114 who are the authority in this matter, and not the Local Government Board, have approved of the details of the scheme for the additions and improvements now being carried out.