(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to see that the annual reports of his Department are produced more promptly, as the latest issue refers to returns and circumstances several years ago.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Reports of Department of Health.
30.
Because of other commitments in preparing material similar to that included in the annual reports of my Department—and in this respect I refer particularly to the several descriptive and explanatory memoranda prepared for the Select Committee on the Health Services—it has not been possible for my Department to keep up-to-date in issuing these reports. I would, however, point out to the Deputy that much of the material usually included in these reports is otherwise readily available from published sources. Comprehensive information on vital statistics, with commentaries thereon, is contained in the annual reports on Vital Statistics and my statements to the House each year on the Estimates for my Department give a full account, readily available for reference, of current developments in the health services.
I have, indeed, considerable doubts as to whether reports of the kind formerly published each year are worth the annual effort involved in their production and am inclined to the view that a report covering a period of years—say, five—would be more appropriate. Work on such a report covering the period up to 31st March, 1964, is proceeding.