asked the Minister for Health whether a married man, resident in Galway City, who is earning £7 a week and who has no other means is entitled to free hospital treatment for himself and his dependents, and whether the wife of such a man is entitled to a maternity grant; further, why persons in such circumstances are being refused free medical attendance cards, irrespective of whether their employment is continuous or intermittent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway City: Health Services.
A person who is insured under the Social Welfare Acts and who satisfies the required conditions in regard to contributions is entitled to free institutional and specialist services.
A person who is not an insured person may be entitled to free institutional services for himself or his dependents as a person who by his own industry or other lawful means cannot provide the institutional and specialist services necessary for himself and his dependents. The determination of eligibility is, however, a matter for the health authority who consider each case on its merits.
A woman who is eligible for free general practitioner services under Section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, is entitled to a cash grant in respect of each confinement. The determination of a person's eligibility in this case is also a matter for the health authority.
Under the General Medical Services Regulations, 1954, a person may at any time apply to a health authority to have his name included in the general medical services register of that health authority. A person in employment who has been refused a medical card is entitled to have his application reviewed if he ceases to be employed or if, for any other reason, his circumstances change.
In view of the fact that the Minister has not given me any information and has left the position as vague as it was previously, would he—as he has done, apparently, from a report of a speech of his, in the case of other districts—make representations with regard to hardship in the matter of the application of these regulations? Will he make representations to the county manager in Galway to the effect that the regulations are being harshly administered in Galway City and that people there with families, who are earning between £6 and £7 a week and paying high rent, are being refused free hospital treatment and their wives are being refused the maternity grant? Will he make, representations to the county manager to that effect?
The Deputy should be aware that under the provisions of the Health Act, for which I am not responsible, these matters are entirely the concern of the health authority. I have no powers of interference, but if the Deputy will give me particulars with regard to any particular case I shall do what the Deputy may also do—make representations to the health authority.
I do not think the Minister can wash his hands of it in that way by saying that he is not responsible. It was he who piloted the Suspension Act through the House which has caused all the trouble.
That is a speech; that is an argument.
Not only is the Deputy's last supplementary incorrect, but it would take somebody with the hardihood of the Deputy to make that statement.
Is the Minister not aware that in his reply he has said that an insured worker is entitled to free hospital treatment? Surely he is ignoring the fact that the families of these insured workers are not entitled to and that they cannot get these white cards from the local authority.