asked the Minister for Health if he will state the average percentage of pupils attending national schools medically examined by school medical inspectors over the last three years for which returns are available, giving the percentages by administrative health areas.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, a Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Does that statement reveal in fact that with the existing resources that are available the medical examination of national schools, instead of taking place annually, is taking place much less than annually?

Yes, that is so, generally speaking.

Unless the available personnel is very largely increased the addition of secondary and technical schools will create much more serious arrears. Is that not so?

Yes, the staffs will have to be enlarged but I think, without being too sure, that one assistant medical officer of health in most counties would fill the void.

asked the Minister for Health if he will state the average number of pupils examined per day by medical examiners at school medical inspections.

The information sought by the Deputy is not available in my Department.