168 Dr. G. FitzGerald asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure that persons attending health centres are accorded privacy when discussing personal details concerning their applications for benefits; and the future action which is proposed in this regard.

I have been informed by the eight health boards that all health centres have private interviewing facilities for people who are applying for benefits from the community welfare officers. However, in the case of the Eastern Health Board there is one health centre where only two of the three communtiy welfare officers have private interviewing facilities at present. The board has undertaken to remedy the situation without delay.