asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state (1) how many children have been immunised against diphtheria in each of the 26 counties in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945; (2) what was the annual cost of those inoculations; (3) where the antitoxin used for such inoculations is manufactured; (4) if horses are used for manufacture of the antitoxin in this country, what is the source of supply of such horses; (5) how many children, following immunisation with diphtheria antitoxin, subsequently developed tuberculosis and how many subsequently developed infantile paralysis during the last five years.

The information asked for under headings (1), (3) and (4) of the Deputy's question is, in so far as it is available, set out in a statement which will, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, be circulated with the Official Reports. The statistics asked for under headings (2) and (5) of the question are not available.

Following is the statement:—

(1) The subjoined table shows the numbers of children actively immunised against diphtheria in the years 1940 to 1944, inclusive, under schemes administered by local authorities. Statistics for the year 1945 are not yet available.

Number of children immunised against diphtheria in each of the 26 counties in the years 1940-1945.

(3) The prophylactics used in these schemes in recent years were mainly of English manufacture. Supplies of prophylactics from the United States of America were affected adversely by the emergency.

(4) None of the prophylactics used are manufactured in this country.