asked the Minister for Health when the Commission set up to study the educational problem of mentally retarded children will be published.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Retarded Children.
13.
My present information is that the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Handicap aims to submit its report to me by April next. I shall not be in a position to answer the Deputy's question until I have received the report. I would like to emphasise, however, that the terms of reference of the Commission are very much wider than the Deputy's question suggests.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that some of the facilities that may have been made available are to be suspended until such time as this report comes to hand?
I do not know how the Deputy could possibly be under that misapprehension. The facilities to the utmost of our ability to provide are now in operation.
Is the Minister aware that in each county there is a waiting list of children to get into these institutions—that there has been such a waiting list for many years?
I am aware that when the Deputy was supporting a Government on this side of the House, the waiting list was three times as long.
When the Taoiseach answered a question by Deputy Clinton earlier on this matter of mentally handicapped children, the Taoiseach referred the Deputy to the Minister for Education.
Only in connection with schools.
Now when the Minister for Health tries to answer another question, he refers Deputy Esmonde——
The Minister has no function.