asked the Minister for Health if he will state, in respect of the country as a whole: (i) the number of persons suffering from T.B., (ii) the number of beds available for such patients, (iii) the number of beds occupied, and (iv) the number of such patients awaiting institutional treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - T.B. Patients.
I presume the information requested by the Deputy relates to persons suffering from respiratory and non-respiratory forms of T.B. who require, and are willing to accept, institutional treatment. According to the information available in my Department the position on the 30th November, 1954, was as follows:—(i) the number of such persons suffering from T.B. was 6,999; (ii) the number of beds available for such patients was 6,956; (iii) the number of beds occupied was 6,750; and (iv) the number of patients awaiting institutional treatment was 249.