With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 20 together.
The procedure followed up to now for the presentation of certified abstracts of accounts of health boards to the Houses of the Oireachtas was to present the abstracts of all health boards for a particular year simultaneously. This led to delay in presentation until the audits of all the boards were completed. Because of these delays, I reviewed this practice earlier this year. As a result, it was decided to arrange for immediate presentation of all available certified abstracts. In future individual certified abstracts will be presented as they become available.
The presentation made on 26 April, 1979 included an abstract for 1976 for one health board. I expect that the certified abstracts for the other seven health boards for 1976 and those for all boards for 1977 and 1978 will become available for presentation between now and April 1980.
The certified abstracts are sent to the Minister for Health immediately following audit of the accounts. As I have indicated, I propose for the future to arrange for presentation of each abstract as it becomes available. It would seem inappropriate to set a time limit for presentation, since a situation could arise where factors outside the control of the Minister for Health could delay presentation beyond the fixed time limit.