Local Government Act, 1941

Joint mental hospitals.

79.—In lieu of the provisions (repealed by this Act) of sub-section (7) of section 9 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898 , as amended by section 77 of the Act of 1925, the following provisions shall apply in relation to every mental hospital to which the said section 9 applies and of which the district comprises two or more counties or a county borough and one or more counties, and the said section 9 shall be construed and have effect accordingly, that is to say:—

(a) the powers, functions, and duties in relation to the hospital of the local authorities concerned shall be exercised and performed by such local authorities through a joint committee of such local authorities;

(b) the expenses of the management and maintenance of the hospital during every half year ending on the 31st day of March or the 30th day of September shall be defrayed by such local authorities severally in proportion to the average daily number of patients from their respective functional areas maintained in the hospital during such half year;

(c) each such local authority shall make in each year a new appointment of members for such joint committee, in the case of a county council, at the annual meeting or, in the case of the corporation of a county borough, at the quarterly meeting next after a triennial election or between the 23rd day of June and the 1st day of July in a year in which there is not a triennial election;

(d) the number of members to be appointed by each such local authority shall, as nearly as possible, be proportionate to the contribution payable by such local authority to the expenses of the management and maintenance of the hospital during the local financial year ending on the 31st day of March next previous to the appointment and such number shall, in case of dispute, be determined by the Minister whose decision shall be final;

(e) every member of such joint committee shall hold office (unless he dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified) until his successor is appointed;

(f) casual vacancies occurring in such joint committee by reason of death, resignation, or disqualification of any member shall be filled by the local authority by whom such member was appointed.