asked the Minister for Health what is the average overall wage level at which a family of husband, wife and four under-age children are treated free of direct charge under the general medical provisions of the Health Acts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Medical Treatment.
7.
In order to supply the information requested, it would be necessary for me to obtain from every health authority a statement of the income of every family which holds a medical card and which consists of a husband, wife and four under-age children. I do not feel that the trouble and expense of examining every entry in the medical register in order to extract this information would be justified.
The Deputy will, no doubt, appreciate that wage level is only one of the factors taken into account in determining eligibility for general medical services and, consequently, that even if a national average figure were available, it could be very misleading.