asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction immediately the appointment of a senior house officer to Saint Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Cork, to cope with the increasing backlog of hip operations in the Southern Health Board region.

The proposal of the Southern Health Board for this appointment will be considered in relation to their overall budgetary allocation for their staff compliment when the 1976 allocations are being considered.

Does that mean that there will be a considerable delay in the appointment of this surgeon?

This is the end of October, and I said it would not be done in 1975 but would be under consideration for the programme for 1976.

Is the Minister aware that this is a very serious problem?

I appreciate that but, as I explained to the Deputy last July, this problem is not peculiar to one particular area. There has been an increasing demand, particularly for hip operations in view of the new techniques which have been introduced and the growing number has overtaken us.

For years the staff of this hospital have been agitating for the appointment of this surgeon.

I appreciate that but, as I said, it will be considered in relation to the 1976 allocation. I can do no more than that.

This long queue will have to wait——

Question No. 31.

Could the Minister give the overall figure of the waiting list for osteoarthritic hip operations in the country?

Not for the country, but I may have some information.

The Deputy did mention hip operations, is that not so?

Yes, I thought the Minister was referring to that in particular because of the demand resulting from new techniques.

On the 30th September this year there was a total of 118 on the waiting lists of the three surgeons for hip replacement operations in Gurranebraher.

In Cork only? What about the rest of the country?

I have not that information.

Does the Minister have any supplementary information in his reply to the last question.

This question deals only with the hospital in Gurranebraher.

Some of these people have been on the lists for years.

Next question.

How many years?

I have called the next question.