asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that there is no likelihood of an early report from the Select Committee on Health Services, he will take steps, in view of the forthcoming steep rise in rates, to increase the State share of expenditure on the health services from fifty to eighty per cent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services Expenditure.
4.
The answer is in the negative.
The Deputy no doubt appreciates that while the amount in respect of health services which has to be borne on the rates is increasing, so also is the amount which has to be met from the Exchequer.
As regards the suggestion that as much as four-fifths of the health expenditure should be met from the Exchequer, I would draw the Deputy's attention to a statement as follows which I made to this House on 29th June, 1960 (Dáil Debates, Vol. 183, Col. 664) when speaking on my Department's Estimate:—
If the State were to take over the whole, or a substantially greater part, of the burden of the cost, we should have to look anew at the administration of the services and possibly consider whether or not the authority which is the main source of the piper's pay should have more say in the tune being played. To put it more plainly, if the Exchequer's proportionate share of the cost of the health services were to be increased by more than a casual or insignificant amount, then the Minister for Health, because of his responsibility to the general taxpayer, would be bound to take a more active part in the administration of the health services, even perhaps to the extent of taking them over, or entrusting their operation to bodies nominated by him.