John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, to the House. It was brought to my attention in recent months by a number of public health nurses and various members of the medical services in my area of Carlow and Kilkenny that there is a problem with the operation of the child health screening programme. I am not familiar with the operation of the scheme throughout the country or even in my own area but I am aware the scheme, as originally operated, provided a useful service for children, their families and the State in identifying illnesses or other problems children might have at an early stage and acting upon them as soon as possible.

In recent years it appears the operation of the scheme has become more haphazard in that not as many tests are being carried out or not as many aspects of the child's health are being covered as was the case previously. I am anxious to hear the Minister of State outline the current position on the number of children being reached by the scheme and any views he or the Government has on how the scheme could be revised and modernised to ensure it continues to provide a useful service, in particular in detecting difficulties children might experience with their hearing or sight, dental checks and so on. The scheme provided a useful service in that regard and I hope it will continue in future. I am sure the Minister of State has detailed information on the way the scheme operates and any changes envisaged in the foreseeable future.