asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are at present in either residential or foster care in each of the health board areas; the number of such children who have been in care for five years or more; the number of children in care for less than five years who are (a) legitimate and (b) illegitimate; and the number of children in care for over five years who are (i) legitimate and (ii) illegitimate.

As the reply to this Question is of a statistical nature I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate the figures with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Children Currently in Care

Is it in order to ask the Minister to read out that answer in full? Is it extensive?

It is. I have read out the statistics which were not too extensive. This will take some time.

I withdraw the request.