asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons of all ages in the State who are not covered for general practitioner, midwifery and ancillary services by health schemes operated by health authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cover of Health Schemes.
29.
The estimated number of persons not eligible for the general practitioner medical service is 2,053,000.
The number of women who are not eligible for midwifery services operated by health authorities is not known. The services are available for women in the lower and middle income groups, which groups together make up about 85 per cent. of the population. The balance of 15 per cent. consists mainly of persons to whom the service does not apply, i.e., men, children and women over child-bearing age. Bearing this factor in mind, it would be correct to say that the number of women requiring midwifery services and not eligible for them would not exceed a small fraction of 15 per cent. of the total population.