asked the Minister for Health to explain how the prisoners in Dundrum Central Mental Hospital were in possession of guns; and if he will undertake to make public the results of any investigations into the matter.

A detailed investigation of the circumstances of the recent escape is being carried out by the Eastern Health Board. As it has not yet been completed I am not in a position to give the Deputy the information he seeks.

Could the Minister say how often are high risk prisoners transferred to Dundrum from custody such as the prisoners referred to were in?

That is a separate question. It is not in the original question.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, I am asking how often does this happen.

That is a separate question.

Everything is a separate question; the Chair does not want us to ask the same question again?

No, but the question on the Order Paper is in regard to how a person got possession of a gun. The Deputy was asking about the number of transfers from one place to another—a different question.

What I wanted to know, if I were allowed to develop my question, is how often are people who are in custody, such as the prisoners who escaped, transferred to Dundrum hospital——

The Deputy may put down a separate question. Question No. 7.

This is a very important matter.

I am not denying that.

A man has been sentenced to 15 years by the courts and after three weeks he escapes——

Order. The Deputy will pursue this matter by a separate question later.

With the permission of the Chair I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

I shall communicate with the Deputy.