asked the Minister for Health if he will state the average weekly cost of maintaining a patient in any of the (a) mental hospitals and (b) sanatoria under the control of a local authority.

The information is as follows:—Ballinasloe Mental Hospital, £3 4s. 9d.; Woodlands Sanatorium, £4 6s. 10d.

The foregoing figures relate to 1951/52, the latest complete year, and are subject to audit.

I understand that the question related to local authorities, not to a particular local authority.

Maintenance of a patient in any of the mental hospitals and sanatoria.

Of a local authority. You gave us only one county.

Under the control of a local authority.

Can the Minister indicate whether the two institutions he has quoted represent an average figure?

I was not asked that.

I know that.

I cannot say so. I gave the Deputy his own county. He asked for a local authority.

The Minister cannot say if the answer he gave is a fair approximate representation of the cost to a local authority?

As far as I know, it is, but I cannot say definitely.