asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have been taken into care by each of the health boards in each of the last five years; and the number of fit person orders that have been obtained by each of the health boards in those years.

8.

asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have been taken into care by each of the health boards in each of the last five years as a result of suspected or actual non-accidental injuries inflicted by parents.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together and since the replies are of a statistical nature to circulate them with the Official Report. Following are the statistics:

Arising out of the non-reply of the Minister could he indicate——

The Deputy can only ask a supplementary question arising out of the reply.

I cannot ask supplementaries on statistics which the Minister has not given me.

Normally no supplementary questions are permitted on statistical questions. They are often submitted in tabular form and the Deputy has to wait until he sees the reply and can ask a supplementary question in relation to them on another question.

The supplementary question I wish to ask will arise under the next question so I will not make life any more difficult for the Chair than it is.

There are 48 figures in each of the two tables circulated.

9.