asked the Minister for Health if he will state how much of the loss to public funds of £200,000 which he tentatively estimated would result from the abolition of charges to persons receiving institutional services under Section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, would be in respect of (a) insured persons and dependents and (b) landholders of under £50 valuation and dependents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Estimated Health Act Losses.
The Deputy will appreciate that many persons who receive health services as members of one eligible class could also be correctly regarded as members of another eligible class. Many agricultural landholders are, for instance, also insured persons, and the majority of insured persons could also correctly claim services as persons whose means are less than £600 a year.
I am satisfied accordingly that no reliable apportionment can be made between the various eligible classes of the present income from charges in respect of services provided under Section 15 of the Health Act, 1953.