Health Act, 1970

Administration of Central Mental Hospital.

44.—(1) The Minister may, by order made with the consent of the Minister for Finance, arrange for the transfer of the administration of the Central Mental Hospital to the health board (in this section referred to as the relevant health board) the functional area of which includes the county of Dublin.

(2) Where an order has been made under this section—

(a) the Central Mental Hospital shall be administered by the relevant health board and its officers and servants, as if it were a hospital maintained by the board under section 38 and

(b) a reference in any enactment to the resident governor and physician of the Central Mental Hospital shall be construed as a reference to the officer of the relevant health board who is for the time being the senior medical officer of that Hospital.

(3) Any person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, was an officer of the Minister employed in the Central Mental Hospital and who opts within the period of six months beginning on such commencement to be appointed to an office under the relevant health board shall be so appointed by the chief executive officer as from the commencement of an order under this section.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Central Criminal Lunatic Asylum (Ireland) Act, 1845 , the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, arrange for functions relating to the repairing, enlarging, improving, upholding or furnishing of the Central Mental Hospital to be performed by the relevant health board.