asked the Minister for Health whether his attention has been drawn to a statement (details supplied) to the effect that section 69 of the Health Act, 1970 has not been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disability Allowance.
7.
I have seen the newspaper statement referred to by the Deputy. Provision is made in section 69 of the Health Act, 1970, whereby in calculating means for the purpose of determining entitlement to a disabled persons maintenance allowance, only the applicant's own means and those of his spouse, if any, will be taken into account.
However, the implementation of this provision has been deferred pending availability of finance to meet the additional expenditure involved.
(Cavan): Has it not been understood and, indeed, was it not announced, that this section would be brought into operation on the 1st April next?
I do not remember saying that. I said I would do what I could about it.
(Cavan): Can the Minister give any indication as to when it will be brought in?
It is simply a question of priorities. As the Deputy knows, the disability allowance has been increased. If the Deputy asks a question I will give him the increase since 1964, for example, and the corresponding increase in the cost of living and he will find that there has been a surplus of increase, which is highly desirable.
That is no use to the person who is not getting anything.
I am saying that there has been an increase. In relation to the programme for the health services, we have the choice of doctor coming in this year; we have had the disability drugs and hospital service for young people; we have had an increase in the amount of drug assistance available and an increase of provision for the care of the aged and the child health service. We have done a great deal in the last two years. I hope to be able to bring this in if and when the finance is available. I am not going to make any promise about it at the moment.
(Cavan): Members of the House were led to believe that the uniform standard of means test for a health card would be brought into operation on 1st October last and that section 69 would be brought into operation on 1st April next. The Minister seems to have gone back on both of those understandings.
Will the Minister not accept that it was understood that section 69 would operate from 1st April, 1971, to enable persons who are at present deemed not to be eligible for disability allowance in view of the regulations governing the assessment of means to become eligible? The present system is that the household means are taken into account. The Minister must be aware that section 69 is a vital section because it precludes that type of assessment and confines assessment to the means of the individual applicant or, in the case of a married person, of the spouse. Section 69 of the Health Act should be quite an easy section to implement. Why the delay? Would the Minister not accept that due to the delay in implementing this section, uncles and aunts living with nephews and nieces are deprived of the disability allowance? When will the section operate?
(Cavan): And it results in their being pushed into institutions.
Yes, indeed.
As I have said, we have undertaken in a very short period of time no less than seven measures all of which are to help people who are necessitous and I will put into operation this section of the Act as soon as I can but I am not ashamed of the progress made under other heads, which at least is an indication that the health services are improving in respect of looking after people who need help.
Would the Minister not accept that section 69 is quite an easy one to operate? As pointed out by Deputy Fitzpatrick, aunts, uncles and elderly relatives living in households are deprived of this allowance and as a result a number of them have to move into institutions where, in many cases, the cost of maintenance amounts to almost £20 a week. There is no progress made.
(Cavan): Pending implementing the section would the Minister consider issuing a directive to health authorities that they should relax the means test somewhat in respect of this matter and should take a more liberal view of applications that are made?
I will consider that. I think some of the health boards do already take a liberal view.
The Cork Health Board do not and many old uncles and aunts find that the household means must be taken into account. Yet the Minister has not implemented section 69 of the Health Act.