THE number of people on the public hospital waiting list last June was 30,447, an increase on the previous year's figure of 27,696.

This was revealed by the Minister for Health, who added that he was providing an extra £5 million in funding for the rest of this year.

Mr Noonan said in June a total of 141 beds was closed, representing 1.1 per cent of the total bed complement of 12,777. A further 276 beds were closed in July and another 288 beds in August. In the peak holiday month of August, therefore, a total of 705 beds were closed.

The monthly average of beds closed during the June to August period was 421 or 3.3 per cent of the total bed complement. But all emergency and urgent services continued to be provided.

THE Fianna Fail Dublin deputy, Mr Ben Briscoe, urged the Minister for Justice to support a two month amnesty for the surrender of offensive weapons.

In an adjournment debate, he said the incidence of knife attacks in Dublin was high and a campaign to "bin your blade" had been mounted by people who wanted to see an end to them.

The Minister of State, Mr Bernard Durkan (for the Minister for Justice) said the suggestions would be examined but under the law at present it was an offence to carry a knife without "good reason".