asked the Minister for Health if he will consider publishing in simple form for the guidance of insured persons under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, a booklet setting out the benefits to which they will be entitled, to ensure that each insured person will be in a position to know at first hand what the Health Act, 1953, means exactly to him or her.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Act Benefits Booklet.
I do not feel that I would be justified in selecting, for the purpose mentioned in the question, persons insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, rather than persons otherwise entitled to services under the Health Act, 1953, including dependents of insured persons, farmers under a certain valuation and other persons whose income does not exceed a certain sum.
I agree that it is desirable that eligible persons should have the means of knowing the services available to them and how they should set about availing of them, and I am considering how best that could be achieved. I feel, however, that until more progress has been made in regard to the precise manner of the implementation of the various services envisaged in the Act, the issue of a booklet would be premature.