RICHMOND DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM, DUBLIN. (Hansard, 24 January 1918)

§ 8. Mr. BYRNE

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, in dealing with the financial position of the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, Dublin, on 31st March, 1917, the Local Government Board auditor reported that it could not be deemed satisfactory and that this was attributable to the increase in the prices of commodities to an extent which it was not possible to foresee when the estimates for the year were prepared; that during the current year, 1917–18, there has been a further increase in those prices and that the tendency is still upwards; and that the taxation of the contributory districts for the maintenance of pauper lunatics in the Richmond Asylum, Dublin, and its branch asylum at Portrane, county Dublin, has already been increased by £38,000 since the outbreak of the War and that it is estimated to be 1130 increased to an, amount £60,000 in excess of the pre-war figure in the coming year, 1918–19; and Whether, seeing that the maintenance of lunatics is partly defrayed by means of a Government grant not exceeding a maximum of 4s: per head per week, which was fixed by Parliament in the year 1874 and based on the cost of maintenance of lunatics at that period; that, notwithstanding the increase in the cost of the maintenance of lunatics since the outbreak of war, there has been no increase in the rate of the Government contribution; that the income of the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account has been insufficient during the last eight years to allow of the payment in full of the audited and certified claims for grants in respect of the maintenance of lunatics in the Irish district asylums and that the payments have in consequence been abated by an average of 13 per cent.; and that, in the case of the Richmond Asylum patients, the accumulated deficiencies in these payments to the contributing authorities already amount to a total of £32,000; and whether, seeing that the Government have recognised the principle of increasing the capitation grant to other public institutions supported by joint contributions from the Treasury and from local authorities, the Government will recognise the necessity of increasing the capitation grant for the maintenance of lunatics on the basis of existing prices?