asked the Minister for Health if it is his intention to provide for over-night stay facilities in (a) existing children's hospitals or hospitals caring for children; and (b) any newly built hospitals.

Over-night stay facilities for parents of children in hospital are provided at present in the children's hospitals in Dublin and in the planning throughout the country of general hospitals with paediatric units, provision is being made for such facilities.

The general position regarding such facilities is being examined in my Department in conjunction with a report of a recent study carried out by the Medico-Social Research Board on behalf of the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital (Ireland).