asked the Minister for Health if he will state the estimated cost to the Exchequer of supplying polio vaccine free of charge to (a) all persons likely to avail of polio vaccination, and (b) all persons covered by the provisions of the Health Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Polio Vaccine.
5.
With regard to the first part of the question, it would not be practicable, in view of the difficulty of assessing the probable demand, to estimate with any precision the cost of supplying the requisite poliomyelitis vaccine, whether as part of a local authority scheme for vaccination or otherwise.
With regard to the second part of the question, the cost to the Exchequer of a free supply of poliomyelitis vaccine to all persons covered by the provisions of the Health Acts would be about £580,000. A similar charge would fall to be borne by local health authorities. A local authority vaccination scheme for these classes would also involve considerable administration costs.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the annual cost to the Exchequer of providing polio vaccine under the vaccination scheme at present in operation.
I estimate that the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of providing polio vaccine under the current vaccination scheme will be of the order of £25,000. A similar amount will fall to be provided by the local authorities to meet their share of the cost. To this figure a sum of £8,000 must be added representing the Exchequer share of the estimated cost of administering the scheme. A similar amount will have to be provided by local health authorities to meet their share of this outlay.
7.
asked the Minister for Health whether he is now prepared to make polio vaccine available free of charge in respect of children of parents who are insured under the Social Welfare Acts.
As I indicated in a reply to a Question last week, I hope to introduce the Estimates for my Department in the near future, and I shall take the opportunity which the occasion offers to refer to the question of vaccination against poliomyelitis. As I have already mentioned, I have authorised the extension of the current free and contributory schemes from 10 to 18 years of age.