asked the Minister for Health if he is in a position to indicate when hospital services will be made available under the Health Act, 1953, to persons insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Services.
I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce when the services provided for in Section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, will be available. I am about to commence negotiations with the various interested bodies with a view to having them brought into operation at the earliest practicable date.
Is the Minister at this stage in a position to give any broad indication when he hopes the services will be brought into operation and whether they will be brought in on a national or regional basis?
As I stated when the Bill was going through, my intention is to make an Order as soon as any local authority is ready, but a local authority would not necessarily be compelled to come in on that particular date. The regulations, of course, have to be prepared first.
Could the Minister give any indication, even approximate, as to when the scheme will become operative?
I could only give a sort of negative reply—not before 1st April, I am afraid.
I take it there is no significance attaching to that particular date?