asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to circulate to schools, sporting and recreation clubs, voluntary bodies concerned in the health field and public representatives the conclusions listed in the annual report for 1981 of the Medico-Social Research Board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medico-Social Research Board Report.
6.
Mr. Leonard
The annual report of the Medico Social Research Board is widely circulated to personnel in the health and research fields and copies are also sent to Deputies and Senators.
The concluding chapter of the 1981 report contains brief references to a wide range of medico-social problems and should be considered in the context of the overall report.
The Medico-Social Research Board will be pleased to supply copies free of charge to interested persons.
Mr. Leonard
Would the Minister agree that in view of the serious health implications in the various matters covered that this report should be widely circulated to the groups I mentioned? Would he agree that at least the conclusion section of the report should be circulated to those people?
The report should be circulated to concerned persons in the health field and to all public representatives. I think the Deputy will agree that in many respects the report is quite technical and largely deals with research data undertaken by the Medico-Social Research Board and might not be of great interest to recreation clubs, voluntary bodies and so on. The voluntary bodies in the health field, public representatives or any professional person involved in the health area can readily obtain the report free of charge. It is expensive to produce.
Mr. Leonard
Would the Minister not agree that the conclusion should be circulated? Would the Minister accept that it is more to the point and a better prepared document than much of the output of the Health Education Bureau?
The annual report is extremely good. It is invaluable and is circulated to Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I will encourage the board to engage in a wider circulation of it. It is readily available and if the Deputy wishes to get copies free of charge they can be made available to him.