asked the Minister for Health the number of children provided with free vaccination against poliomyelitis during the year 1962-63.

The number of children under 17 years, which is the nearest relevant age-group for which figures are available in my Department, who completed a course of three vaccinations against poliomyelitis under health authorities' free schemes in the year ended 31st March, 1963, was 29,326. A considerable number of children who had not completed the course of vaccinations had one or two vaccinations in that year. In addition, a further 22,211 in this age-group received a fourth (booster) injection under the free schemes.