asked the Minister for Health the total cost of cigarette smoking in terms of (a) the total number of work days lost; (b) the cost of medicinal preparations in respect of associated illnesses treated; (c) sickness benefits during illness or invalidity; and (d) damage by fire, if available.

8.

asked the Minister for Health if he intends to institute an inquiry into the total cost to the State in social cost of consequent illness, disability and death due to cigarette smoking in this country.

9.

asked the Minister for Health if he intends to institute an inquiry into the total cost to the State in social cost of consequent illness, disability and death due to alcoholism in this country.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions 7 to 9, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is not available at present but a study is being carried out by my Department which will attempt to measure the effects which smoking has on the health and well-being of the community and the costs which are incurred on seeking to remedy its ill-effects.

The feasibility of conducting a similar study into the ill-effects of alcoholism is under consideration at present.

The Minister said that the study will be undertaken by his Department. Is this the first study that has been undertaken by his Department? There is no record of the Department having undertaken any such study before. Is this the first?

Yes.

Could I ask the Minister why he took the questions about smoking; and about alcohol together?

Why could I not get answers separately to these questions? They are important separate issues.

I apologise to the Deputy if he feels that there is any confusion but these two matters are in the preventive medicine area and are nearly always associated together, but I have given two separate answers. In the case of cigarettes and tobacco, a study is on the way. In the case of alcohol we are only examining the feasibility of conducting a survey.