asked the Minister for Health if he will itemise the services and schemes sanctioned by the Health Act, 1970 which are not yet in operation; and if he will state in each such case when it will come into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services.
10.
I assume the Deputy is referring to new services or extensions to existing services provided for in the Health Act, 1970. The following are the services which have not yet come into operation:—
(1) General Medical Services:—It is proposed that the new general medical service with free choice of doctor and retail chemist will come into operation in the Eastern Health Board area on 1st April, 1972 and in the rest of the country some months later.
(2) Limited Eligibility Group Drug Scheme:—It is aimed for the introduction of this scheme which will assist persons with limited eligibility to meet the cost of drugs and medicines, to coincide with the introduction of the new general medical services to which I have just referred.
(3) Revised Rate of Maternity Cash Grant for persons with full eligibility:— Section 64 of the Act provides for the payment of a maternity cash grant in respect of each confinement amounting to £8 in respect of each live issue and £8 where there is no live issue. A grant of £4 in respect of each confinement is currently paid. The introduction of this section will depend on the availability of finance and is being considered in connection with the preparation of my Department's Estimates for the next financial year.
(4) Dental, Ophthalmic and Aural Services for persons with limited eligibility and for post-primary school children:— It is not proposed to provide this service until, in general, existing services for persons with full eligibility and pupils of national schools have been brought to a satisfactory standard.
(5) Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowances:— Section 69 provides that in calculating means for the purpose of determining entitlement to a disabled person's maintenance allowance only the applicant's own means and those of his spouse would be taken into account. At present the means of all near relatives residing with the applicant are taken into account. The date of introduction of this provision will depend on finance being made available having regard to the many competing budgetary demands.
Can the Minister say why the new general medical services scheme is being introduced in Dublin in April while it will not be introduced in the rest of the country until some time later in 1972?
I have already given a reply to that in the Dáil.
(Cavan): Can the Minister say whether there is a full dental service available to the lower income group?
It applies, as the Deputy knows, to children and to people who require services. It is not a complete service.
(Cavan): Is it not a fact that adults in the lower income group can have their teeth extracted free of charge but must provide dentures at their own expense? Is not that an absurd situation?
Certainly there is some delay.
(Cavan): I would suggest to the Minister that it is not a question of delay but that in many counties there is no service under which poor people can have dentures fitted free.
It is a question of a decision on priorities and also the fact that in many areas when posts for dental officers are advertised nobody comes forward, although the remuneration is within £100 or £200 of the figure in Great Britain.
Question No. 11.
(Cavan): The Minister knows that the scheme is non-existent in my constituency.
Is it not true that some time ago a directive was sent from the Department to local authorities telling them to discontinue school medical inspections because the number of children who needed extractions was so great that the amount of money provided by the Department was insufficient to cover them?
I am not so aware.
Those requiring the service are so aware.
I am calling Question No. 11.