210 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of times the working group set up in 2000 to advise on the formulation of procedures and guidelines on abuse of the elderly has met. [3211/02]

211 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the new target date for the working group set up in 2000 to advise on the formulation of procedures and guidelines on abuse of the elderly to issue a report and recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/02]

212 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report and recommendations of the working group set up in 2000 to advise on the formulation of procedures and guidelines on abuse of the elderly will be made available, following the publication of a report by the National Council on Ageing and Older People; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3213/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together.

The working group on abuse of the elderly has met on 21 occasions to date. It was originally anticipated that its deliberations would be concluded by 31 December 2001 but, as I indicated in reply to a previous question from the Deputy on this matter, valuable time was lost in setting up the two pilot projects due to the introduction of foot and mouth disease restrictions. The new target date for submission of the report is 30 June 2002 and the working group is confident this target will be met.