asked the Minister for Health if he intends to compile a national register of the blind.

I do not consider that a need exists at present for such a register. Health boards and other bodies have available considerable information about the incidence and pattern of blindness in Ireland which should provide valuable material for research and other purposes in this field.

I am surprised to hear the Parliamentary Secretary say that he does not think there is need for a central register. I am sure he does not think it feasible or satisfactory that each health board should have their own list and that we should not have an overall central register from which very valuable information could be obtained in order to combat blindness.

What I am saying is that there is a considerable volume of information at the moment about our blind population and that in 1972 a wide range of information was compiled and that was updated in 1976. indeed, the health boards assist also in as far as they get information about blind people in their areas with whom they come in contact.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary say that this system is an adequate replacement or substitute for a national register?

It is not a replacement or a substitute but it gives an amount of useful information and that information is considered at the moment to be helpful in dealing with this problem and, we hope, in improving the situation of blind people.