asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons, both male and female, admitted to hospitals for care of alcoholism in the years 1950, 1960, 1970 and the most recent date.

While statistics regarding patients admitted to mental hospitals for the treatment of alcoholism are available in respect of each year from 1964 to 1974 they are not available in respect of the years 1950 and 1960 requested by the Deputy.

A limited survey carried out in 1958 showed that there were 561 admissions for alcoholism to all mental hospitals in that year. A breakdown between male and female patients is not available. In 1970 total admissions for alcoholism to all mental hospitals were 3,065—2,609 males and 456 females. In 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, total admissions for alcoholism to all mental hospitals were 5,355—4,450 males and 905 females.

These figures speak for themselves. What urgent action can the Minister take to deal with this obvious appalling deterioration in the position?

Deputy Blaney rose.

The two Deputies seem to be in tandem.

That is not apparent from this part of the House. Is it not possible that a number of people are now going to these institutions who would not go within miles of them a few years ago?

That would be a comfortable thought but it is not true.

I think it is a fact of life in many rural areas.

It may have some influence on the statistics but the statistics make it quite clear that alcoholism is the greatest single cause of admissions and readmissions to mental hospitals. The figures are on the increase and the sad thing is that it applies to females in particular. I can give Deputies the figures for first admissions.

These figures are for 1974. Why the delay? Could they be brought up-to-date?

That is the system as it exists. It could be improved.