asked the Minister for Health whether he will give sympathetic consideration to increasing the payments made to general medical practitioners and midwives under the maternity and infant care services, which have remained unchanged since they were originally introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payments under Maternity and Infant Care Services.
5.
The Deputy is not correct in stating that the scale of fees payable to general medical practitioners under the Maternity and Infant Care Service provided under Section 16 of the Health Act, 1953, has remained unchanged since it was originally introduced.
The scale, originally fixed when the service came into operation in 1954, was increased substantially when the service was extended to the middle income group in 1956.
Midwives were not engaged on a fee basis under the service until it was extended in 1956 when the present scale of fees was fixed.
Any increase in the present fees payable under the service would be a matter for the health authorities in consultation with my Department. The general question of the fees payable for health services provided by medical and ancillary staff on a sessional basis is, however, at present under consideration in my Department. The fees payable under the Maternity and Infant Care Service will be considered in conjuction with the general question.