96 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on the hospital waiting list at the end of September 1996; if this information is not available, the reason it is not compiled more than 60 days after the conclusion of the quarter; if it is available, if he will give the waiting list for each procedure in each hospital in the eight health board areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23538/96]

Limerick East): The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. The Deputy will be aware that I made available an additional allocation of £5 million for the waiting list initiative in September. This allocation has allowed health agencies to increase the level of additional work undertaken to reduce waiting times for hospital treatment in the September-December period.

Total Public Waiting List by Procedure Type, by Speciality, by Hospital, by Health Board Area at 30 September 1996.