Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 1946

Vol. 101 No. 15

Vote 44—National Health Insurance.

Mr. MacEntee

I move:—

That a sum not exceeding £308,100 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1947, for Salaries and Expenses in connection with the Administration of the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1942, and the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1940; for services in connection with Food Allowances and with Supplementary Payments to certain Beneficiaries under the above-mentioned Acts (Emergency Powers Act, 1939) and for sundry Contributions, Grants and Payments; including certain Grants-in-Aid in respect of the cost of Benefits and Expenses of Administration under the National Health Insurance Acts.

Mr. Dillon

I will put the Minister a specific question in regard to National Health Insurance services. As a result of some statutory steps taken in this House, dental and optical and hospital benefits were introduced, and I think I am correct in saying that when the annual appropriations for these additional benefits are exhausted, insured persons must wait until the new year before they qualify for them. Is there any prospect of a situation developing in which that period of waiting may be expected to disappear and when we may assume those benefits will be available to all insured persons all the year round?

Mr. MacEntee

That is a question to which I could not give an unqualified answer. At the present moment these benefits are being provided for out of the national excess of income over expenditure. Whether that will be increased or diminished will depend in the normal course upon the actuarial valuation. Without anticipating too much, I think that the expansion of the health services which we envisage will probably solve that problem before the next valuation takes place.

Mr. Dillon

When does the current quinquennial come to an end?

Mr. MacEntee

Before the end of March, 1947.

Vote put and agreed to.