As regards the reduction of expenditure in the non-medical area, why is the Minister prepared to stand over the decision, particularly in the Eastern Health Board area, to reduce the supply of medical appliances, for example, to mentally and physically handicapped children who had their quota of incontinent pads reduced from 120 or 160 to 60 per month? That kind of reduction in the welfare side of the community health service is totally unacceptable. Will the Minister agree that there is an urgent need to review the guidelines?

As there is a question on the Order Paper relating specifically to the matter raised by the Deputy I feel that, in fairness to the Deputy who tabled that question, I should not answer the supplementary now.

Is the Minister aware that in the case of more than 1,200 mentally and physically handicapped children who are in many instances totally incontinent, the parents have been told by the Eastern Health Board that their quota of incontinent pads which roughly amount to 160 per month is being reduced to 60 and that they can pay at least £40 per month out of the domiciliary care allowance for the balance? Will the Minister agree that whatever else is happening in the health services this cannot be allowed to continue?

The Deputy is getting into a lot of detail on a matter which is worthy of a special question. I should like to remind Members that many questions have been tabled today appertaining to Health. I would be grateful for the co-operation of Members to have as many as possible dealt with. Consequently, I appeal for brevity.

I do not think it is fair to the Deputy who tabled the question that I should answer Deputy Desmond now. However, I should like to tell him that the practice referred to by him of providing such equipment for children is not the practice in any of the other seven health board areas.