asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, for the introduction of an automatic procedure whereby hospital authorities will notify community social workers or local health boards in all cases where adult itinerants are admitted to hospital in view of many allegations that children are at risk in such cases and to ensure that an adequate investigation is carried out.

Procedures are already operated in a number of hospitals to ensure that the children of itinerants who are admitted to hospital are not at risk. Because of the advantages in having an automatic procedure operated by the admissions staff of all hospitals my Department are preparing a general scheme for the introduction and operation of such a procedure.