asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that the deficit in the National Maternity Hospital funds is now over £50,000, involving the payment of interest at the rate of approximately £200 a month, and that the situation is causing grave anxiety to the hospital board; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take immediate steps to reduce this deficit substantially.

I have not detailed information of the day-to-day deficit on the running of voluntary hospitals and depend on information furnished to me at stated intervals by the Hospitals' Commission.

In the case of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin, the deficits of the hospital, as reported to me by the Hospitals' Commission, have been cleared in full up to an including the end of 1953 and all but a small portion of the deficit for 1954 out of a special payment made by me, with assistance from the Exchequer, within the last few months. Instalments of grant in respect of deficits for the year 1954 and the current year have been paid and I am awaiting the receipt, through the Hospitals' Commission, of the audited accounts of the hospital for the year 1955 and revised estimates in respect of the year 1956 before any further payment can be made. I can assure the Deputy, however, that the hospital has been treated not less favourably in the matter of deficit payments than the other voluntary hospitals.

The Minister says this hospital is not being treated differently from any other voluntary hospital.

Not less favourably.

They are all being treated badly. Is the Minister not aware that a deficit in the accounts of the voluntary hospitals arises every year?

This has reference to one particular hospital.

In this particular hospital they have a deficit every year. The question is not related to a balance of the deficit payment for 1953 or 1954 but arises from the deficit during the last financial year of the hospital concerned. Is the Minister not aware that, in the first place, there is a limit to bank accommodation and there is a charge for interest which, in the case of large deficits, is an additional charge? Will the Minister not see that there can be quarterly payments made to the hospitals rather than a payment on account with a final payment at the end of the year during which period every hospital, including this hospital, has difficulty in meeting its demands?

The Deputy will appreciate that the Minister must await the report of the Hospitals' Commission before deciding what the deficit is. Up to 1954 all the deficits have been cleared off and there is only a small deficit for last year. As far as this year is concerned, when the commission's report is received the matter will be attended to.

Is the Minister not really aware of the circumstances which confront this hospital as other hospitals?

It has been no less favourably treated than any other voluntary hospital.

That is no solution of the problem for the hospitals concerned. I want to suggest to the Minister——

That is a statement, not a supplementary question.

The Deputy is very anxious to spend money.

The Minister is very anxious not to spend it.