asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have died of AIDS in Ireland since 1 January, 1986; and if all such deaths have been properly recorded.

14.

asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his campaign against the spread of AIDS; if he has satisfied himself that all blood and organ donations are fully screened; whether further programmes on extra treatment facilities for high risk groups especially intravenous drug users are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

25.

asked the Minister for Health if he will give a projected estimated growth rate for AIDS over the next five years; if he will indicate the progress or the measures proposed by way of a Government campaign to limit the spread of AIDS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

26.

asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has for an information campaign on AIDS to alert the public to the dangers of this illness, outlining the measures necessary to prevent contracting the condition; when the proposed campaign will commence; the funds which have been allocated for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

31.

asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the agreed departmental allocation and the Health Education Bureau allocation in respect of the Government's AIDS campaign; and the changes, if any, which have been decided by the Government in respect of the content or orientation of the campaign as advised to the Government in January, 1987.

81.

asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to publish the programme outlining his Department's policy on AIDS.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 14, 25, 26, 31 and 81 together.

I will be launching the Government's AIDS public information programme tomorrow. The programme has been designed to meet the identified information needs of the population.

To meet these needs a two-tiered public information programme has been designed. At one level the programme will reinforce public knowledge about AIDS through a mass media programme and on an individual level, the personal worries of individuals will be addressed through a detailed booklet and a confidential freefone service. Sufficient funds are available in the Health Education Bureau's budget to meet the cost of the information campaign.

The programme is the first step in an intensive campaign to educate the public about AIDS. Fundamental to its success is the development and the implementation on a continuing basis, of local AIDS information and education programmes. These programmes have been put in place. A central strategy committee has been established by me to develop and implement further strategies for dealing with AIDS. This committee will continue to monitor the needs of the health services, including the hospital services in relation to AIDS and will make appropriate recommendations to me.

There have been 19 cases of AIDS to date, 11 of which have occured since 1 January, 1986. Because of the wide scope for error, an estimate of the future number of cases would only be speculative and of little value.

With regard to the registering of AIDS deaths the doctor attending the patient at death is required by law to certify the cause of death and a copy of the certificate must be presented to the Registrar of Births and Deaths. I would expect this requirement to be adhered to in the case of AIDS patients and I have no reason to believe that it is not.

I take it the Minister meant that there were 11 deaths from AIDS since January 1986?

Yes.

Can the Minister tell the House, first, how many of those were drug-abuse-related and, second, how many were sexually-transmitted-related deaths? Will the Minister confirm to the House that the accurate recording of such deaths is essential if the extent of the problem is to be identified and combated? Furthermore, is he happy that all such deaths are being properly recorded and reported?

In answer to the first part of the Deputy's question, of the 11 deaths three were drug abusers, five were homosexuals/bisexuals, with haemophiliacs accounting for three deaths. As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, it is a matter for the doctor attending the patient who is required, by law, to certify the cause of death, a copy of which certificate must be presented to the Registrar of Births and Deaths. I would expect that this requirement is being adhered to. I have no reason to believe otherwise.

In view of the fact that recording of such deaths would be vitally important to the combating of the disease would the Minister assure the House that his Department will take all possible steps to ensure that statistics are properly collated? Second, arising from the three deaths among haemophiliacs, will the Minister state what steps have been taken, particularly on the lines of vetting blood transfusions, to prevent such deaths in the future?

With regard to the question of haemophiliacs, I should say there is a triple screening of blood products to ensure they are absolutely safe for use in this country. On the first part of the Deputy's question——

Would the Minister assure the House that his Department will direct that all such deaths be properly recorded?

Yes, it is important that all such deaths be properly recorded. But I have no reason to believe that that is not happening.