asked the Minister for Health whether he will arrange to have issued by his Department a booklet on similar lines to that issued yearly by the Department of Social Welfare entitled Summary of Social Insurance and Assistance Services, such booklet to explain the provisions of the Health Acts, the various contributions payable, the benefits obtaining, and the method of applying for any such benefits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services Booklet.
2.
The health services are described in considerable detail in a booklet entitled "Guide to the Social Services" published by the Stationery Office. The current edition of the guide is up to date except in relation to the rates of disablement and infectious diseases maintenance allowances, which were increased last year. The present rates will be shown in a new edition, now with the printers.
My Department issues to enquirers a summary of the health services available for various classes of the population. In the summary, enquirers are referred to the local health authority for more detailed information, and these authorities issue local leaflets on the operation of the services more generally availed of. Further, posters listing the services available are displayed in post offices and elsewhere. In this way, members of the public have reasonably ready access to all relevant information.
I had under consideration the widespread distribution of a detailed booklet explaining in the simplest possible terms the benefits obtainable under the Health Acts, but, as I explained in my reply to a Parliamentary Question by Deputy Tully on the 21st February, 1962 (Dáil Debates, volume 193, columns 392-393) I have thought it desirable to defer the completion of the work on this publication, which would be quite costly, until the review of the health services by the Select Committee of this House is completed and decisions are taken on any changes in the services which may follow that review.
Is the Minister likely to give favourable consideration to the question of issuing the booklet when the report is available?
The report may recommend changes which may commend themselves to the Government of the day and until that decision has been taken, I think it would be rather a waste of money to issue a booklet in relation to services which may quite drastically be changed.
Is the Minister aware that, notwithstanding all the so-called publicity, there is still widespread misunderstanding as to what services are provided and how they can be obtained? The purpose of the question is to endeavour to get into the hands of people some information as to how they can go about availing of the particular services which are open to them. Would the Minister at least indicate that this misunderstanding will be cleared up by the issue of a simple booklet of the kind suggested?
Even a simple booklet costs quite a lot of money and I try to use whatever money is available to me for the therapeutic services which are provided under the Department of Health. I am in the difficulty that we are in what might be called a transition period and if I issue a booklet now, the services may be changed radically in 18 months' time. I do not see very much use in trying to supplement the information already available from the Department and the local health authorities to those who wish to know whether they come within the scope of the Health Acts.
The Minister now has the opportunity of doing something useful and, apparently, he will not even avail of it.