asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for admission to in-patient treatment in public hospitals.

The waiting period for admission to hospital can vary from one hospital to another, and according to the condition to be treated and the degree of urgency of treatment required.

From inquiries made from health boards and some of the larger voluntary hospitals I understand that the average waiting period for admission for general medical and surgical treatment is around four to eight weeks. For some specialities, such as orthopaedics, ophthalmic surgery and ear, nose and throat conditions, the waiting period can be much longer. Steps are being taken to improve the position in these fields by providing additional facilities and appointing extra medical staff.

Persons requiring treatment urgently are, of course, admitted to hospital without delay.

Would the Minister avail of this opportunity to confirm that the new arrangements which will come into operation from April next will not have the effect of making those intolerable waiting periods even longer?

We are trying desperately at every level to improve the situation. I could give the Deputy a list of individual things we are getting under way to try to cut down these unacceptable waiting times. Last year we appointed 200 extra medical posts to the hospital services and 74 of them were consultants. One of the big bottlenecks is the number of consultants.

The Minister was fortunate to find the funds available for that when he took office.

These things were done under the Government's job creation programme.

They were funded by the previous Government's budget.

Does the Deputy care as long as the jobs are there? I am sure the Deputy does not mind giving me the credit as long as the jobs are there.

The Minister should give the credit to the person who made the money available to him.

George Colley made the money available to me.

Last year? Did this Government introduce a budget last year?

George Colley was going around listening to the Minister's letters being read out at Fianna Fáil dinners at that stage.