asked the Minister for Health if he will state the approximate annual cost of the mother and child scheme when fully implemented and the proportion of the cost which will be charged to local rates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Mother and Child Scheme.
The additional annual cost which the mother and child scheme will involve when fully implemented is estimated to be £2,000,000 approximately.
The portion of the cost of health services, of which the proposed mother and child scheme will be a part, which will be borne by local rates, is determined by the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947. In any area in which the cost of such services in respect of any year does not exceed double the net expenditure from rates in the standard year, the increased cost will be borne in full by the Exchequer and, consequently, no increased charge will fall on the local rates. In any area in which the cost exceeds double the net expenditure in the standard year, the additional amount which will have to be met from rates is limited to half the amount of the excess over double the net expenditure in the standard year.