asked the Minister for Health when the increased accommodation for mentally handicapped children mentioned by him in a reply of 24th February will be available.

Of the 260 beds for mentally handicapped children which are provided for in schemes at present in progress, it is expected that 100 beds will be available shortly after the middle of this year, a further 60 beds by October and the remaining 100 beds by the end of the year.

As regards the 240 beds provided for in schemes which I have approved in principle, 20 beds are expected to be available by the end of 1965, 110 late in 1966 or early in 1967, and the remaining 110 beds by the end of 1967.

In the case of the further 200 beds which I stated in my reply to the Deputy's earlier Dáil question on 24th February are the subject of negotiations, it is not feasible at this stage to indicate when this accommodation may become available.

Will the Minister say, when these beds have been provided, how far these provisions will go to meet the existing demand for this kind of accommodation?

I am afraid I cannot give that information.