asked the Minister for Health the action he proposes to take to provide more cost-effective treatment for alcoholism in view of the finding of the Report of the Study Group, The Psychiatric Services—Planning for the Future, that costly specialised in-patient programmes for alcoholics give poor value for money.

18.

asked the Minister for Health the action he proposes to take in view of the comment in the report The Psychiatric Services—Planning for the Future, that the volume of prescription of sedatives and hypnotic psycho-active drugs by general practitioners is clearly evident from the General Medical Services (Payments) Board data.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.

The report in question has been circulated to all the interested parties and I have asked them for any comments they wish to make by the end of April. When these comments are received, I will review the report to formulate future policy for the psychiatric services, taking account of the views expressed.