asked the Minister for Health if he received a submission from the National Council for the Aged on the effects of health expenditure cuts on the elderly; if so, the action he took or proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have received the submission in question and am, naturally, anxious to ensure that the elderly should not experience avoidable hardship in the delivery of services.

The ad hoc dental and optical schemes, using private practitioners, were resumed in the current year in all health boards except the Southern Health Board. That board have not resumed the ad hoc dental scheme but the elderly are regarded as a priority group and are treated as such by the board's own dental staff.

With regard to transport services, the Western Health Board have been obliged to restrict this service. However, the cost of transport to clinics is subsidised or met in full in all cases of hardship. All doctors in the region have been advised of the new arrangements to ensure that all appropriate cases are identified.

Health boards have funds at their disposal to supply items, which are no longer available free to medical card holders, to patients who would otherwise experience hardship. The distance of a patient from the nearest supplier can be taken into account in this regard. Bandages and dressings applied by public health nurses are, in fact, generally supplied free of charge to medical card holders. Consequently, I am satisfied that the points made by the National Council for the Aged have been met.

Does the Minister accept that there is a waiting list in respect of elderly persons who need medicines which are no longer available on the general medical services list? In some cases it is just not possible for a health board to administer a scheme which will supply the necessary drugs when needed.

I have been surprised in the last six to eight months at the very few complaints which my Department and the health boards have received. I could count on the fingers of my hand the number of representations from Deputies relating to the care of the elderly and the occurrence of hardship cases. In relation to the withdrawal of various items in mid-1982, the total number of complaints received by the then Minister would be approximately 150. Out of these, about 120 were immediately met by the health boards.

That is some Uturn since last year.

I am satisfied that the care of the elderly by our health boards is probably the best in Europe. I made a recent survey and am quite satisfied that it is exceptionally good.