asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the serious and urgent problems facing the adult mentally handicapped in the provision of residential and day centres; and the action he intends to take in the matter.

I am fully aware of the present shortage of facilities for mentally handicapped adults. There are approximately 950 extra residential and day places for adults at various stages of building and planning at the moment. These will become available as quickly as financial resources permit. A number of other schemes have been proposed by health boards and voluntary bodies and are at present under consideration.

Quite clearly the Parliamentary Secretary is aware of the urgent need for places for the adult mentally handicapped. It is all very well to tell us that building and planning programmes are going ahead but it appears these programmes have been stopped because of the lack of finance. Is that what the Parliamentary Secretary is telling the House?

I assure the House that little of the planning stage work has been stopped for want of finance. Some other things have been stopped because of the lack of finance but I have mentioned them.

It appears the kitty is bare and there is no money for this work. I would urge the Parliamentary Secretary to ask the Minister for Finance and Health to give priority to the continuation of this planning and building programme for the mentally handicapped.

We must proceed by way of questions.

It must be accepted that this is an area that should have high priority——

The Deputy is continuing to ignore the ruling of the Chair. Has he a question?

Will the Parliamentary Secretary ask his immediate superior, the Minister for Health, to give money to institute this programme immediately? Is that not a reasonable proposition?

There is another question later and I will be able to say something on the matter.

Has the Parliamentary Secretary any information in relation to Cheeverstown and Loughlinstown, two centres in which we have a special interest? Will he indicate the current stage of development in these two areas?

While the Deputy may have an interest in those two centres, the Minister for Health and I have an interest in all centres throughout the country. As Parliamentary Secretary I have always stated that my priority has been with regard to the mentally handicapped and I am sure Deputy Andrews will agree with this. Later on I may be able to give some information to the Deputy.

I accept the bona fides of the Parliamentary Secretary in this respect. We are all on the same wavelength——

This is not in order. This is Question Time. I am calling Question No. 20.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say when the money will be available?

The Deputy has asked that question already.

I have not received much assistance from the Parliamentary Secretary.

20.