asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for extra bed accommodation in St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin and the action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have received proposals from St. Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, for the provision of additional accommodation at the hospital.

I am considering these proposals and the general position regarding this hospital in the context of the future organisation of general hospital services in the south-east Dublin/Wicklow area.

331.

asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for extra bed accommodation in St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, County Dublin and the action he proposes to take in the matter.

The only proposal before me from the Eastern Health Board in respect of additional bed accommodation at St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown relates to the provision of a geriatric assessment unit.

I am considering the general position regarding this hospital in the context of the future organisation of general hospital services in the south-east Dublin/Wicklow area.

332.

asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric beds per capita, the number of such beds de-classified and re-classified as geriatric beds in recent years, the number of first admissions to psychiatric beds in each year from 1960 to 1979 inclusive, the percentage increase in first admissions between 1965 and 1975, 1975 and 1979 and the estimated percentage of patients in psychiatric hospitals who are (a) aged 65 years and over, (b) mentally handicapped adults and (c) aged 65 and over who are suitable for non-psychiatric bed accommodation if such were available.

The number of psychiatric beds in this country at present represents 4.1 beds per 1,000 population. In recent years 45 beds were redesignated for geriatric patients.

The number of first admissions to psychiatric beds in each year from 1960 to 1977—which is the latest year for which figures are available—are as follows:

First Admissions

The percentage increase between 1965 and 1975 is 42.9 per cent. There has been a decrease of .9 per cent between 1975 and 1977.

The estimated percentage of patients in psychiatric hospitals (a) aged 65 years and over is 33?; (b) mentally handicapped adults 20 per cent; (c) This information is not available in my Department.

333.

asked the Minister for Health the percentage of patients in psychiatric beds in the Republic in the years 1950, 1960, 1970, and at the most recent date, suffering from alcoholism.

While statistics regarding patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals for the treatment of alcoholism are available in respect of each year from 1964 to 1977 they are not available in respect of the years 1950 and 1960 requested by the Deputy.

In 1970 admissions to psychiatric hospitals for alcoholism represented 15.1 per cent of all admissions; the corresponding figure in respect of 1977, which is the latest year for which figures are available, was 25.6 per cent.