84 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total number of accident and emergency and prearranged admissions to general hospitals for 1991; the approximate cost of case per patient; if he will give comparative figures by international standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The information in the form sought by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department.

No cost analysis is available which distinguishes between the cost of booked admissions and patients admitted as a result of being seen at A & E departments, because of the wide variety of service elements involved. I am not aware of any international comparisons along the lines sought by the Deputy.