asked the Minister for Health if he will appoint a consultant geriatrician for the assessment of patients for the North Eastern Health Board in Navan, County Meath, to deal with those patients in St. Joseph's Hospital, the Infirmary and the large numbers on the waiting list.

A recent report on medical care for the aged which was prepared for the North Eastern Health Board recommends the appointment of three physicians in geriatric medicine to the board's area. I understand that the board are currently examining the structure and funding of these posts and that a proposal will be submitted to my Department in the near future. When this proposal is received my my Department it will be considered without delay. I should point out however that the approval of consultant posts is ultimately a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal.

Could the Minister give me an assurance that when this report arrives from the North-Eastern Health Board there will be no delay in allowing the health board to appoint geriatricians to deal with the very large waiting list of patients? I know a large percentage of them could be looked after through the community care service. Would the Minister ensure that when this report arrives the appointments are made immediately?

I will be anxious to facilitate the health board in this area but we are currently looking for a report from the board on the structure and the funding of the posts concerned. I am looking forward to receiving that in the very near future.

I would hope that the Minister would take into consideration that the North-Eastern Health Board is the most efficient in the country.

I accept that.

Could I ask the Minister what is his policy on the appointment of geriatricians? Would he like to see more of them appointed?

That is another question.

It relates specifically to Deputy Farrelly's question.

That is the sort of thing that gets questions out of hand.

It is relevant to——

This question deals with the appointment of one geriatrician to a particular health board, not the whole policy.

It is in relation to that particular appointment that I asked the question because I think the Minister's policy would be very pertinent to whether a geriatrician will be appointed or not.

I share the views of the Deputy in this regard. There is a lack of effective geriatric assessment in most of our health board areas and the appointment of geriatricians can be of enormous benefit. Recently I agreed to the appointment of one for Loughlinstown Hospital in the south Dublin area where there is a large number of elderly people. This is already proving itself to be exceptionally beneficial.