asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been directed to the fact that many local authorities have now exceeded the ceiling provided for full recoupment under the Health Act, 1947; and, if so, whether he will introduce proposals for legislation to raise such ceiling.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recoupment of Local Authorities.
I presume the reference in the question to the Health Act, 1947, should be to the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947. I do not intend to introduce proposals for the amendment of the last-mentioned Act to achieve the result which the Deputy has in mind.
That is just too bad for the county councils.
Is the Minister aware that many local authorities are very anxious to expand the particular health services within their control and that, in order to carry out this necessary expansion, the burden must now fall on the rates, in view of the fact that the Minister has indicated that he does not intend to introduce proposals to amend the Act in question?
The position is that, as soon as the central authority is paying as much as the local authority, they will then be paying fifty-fifty.
Is there any county council that will not pay over that this year?
There are a number of them.
The City of Dublin as well.