87 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the waiting list to be assessed for occupational therapy in district care areas one to eight, inclusive, in the Eastern Health Board area; the number of patients for each area; the average delay in assessing patients on the occupational therapy waiting list for each area; the average delay from when the occupational therapists make their recommendations until the work and aids recommended are completed; the number of occupational therapists employed in each area; the number of occupational therapists made permanent by the Eastern Health Board in the years 1988 to 1991; the number of occupational therapists involved in job-sharing schemes in each area; if he will list these separately; the number of physiotherapists employed by the Eastern Health Board in community/primary care medicine in each area; the number of nutritionists employed by the Eastern Health Board in community/primary care medicine; and the number of senior citizens on the register for the elderly in each area.

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I have referred the question to the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board with a request that he reply directly to the Deputy.