asked the Minister for Health the number of persons and the percentage of population in lower, middle and upper income groups on £60 valuation and £1,600 income basis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services Eligibility.
11.
The present number with full eligibility (formerly described as lower income group) is about 870,000, representing approximately 29 per cent of the population. Those with limited eligibility (the middle income group) are estimated to total about 1¾ million persons, or about 60 per cent of the population. The remainder of the population, numbering about 350,000, which is approximately 11 per cent of the total, are in the upper income group.
These figures very from time to time within a fairly narrow range.
12.
asked the Minister for Health in respect of the health services limited eligibility scheme the total estimated coverage under the headings (a) farm households, (b) employed persons, (c) self-employed persons, and (d) others.
Information on the numbers with limited eligibility is not available in the form requested by the Deputy. Estimates of approximate numbers in categories close to those requested are as follows:
|
Gainfully occupied (outside agriculture) and dependants |
1,070,000 |
|
Farmers and dependants |
370,000 |
|
Retired persons and dependants |
60,000 |
|
Others |
250,000 |
|
Total |
1,750,000 |
13.
asked the Minister for Health the expected revenue for 1972-73 from the limited eligibility health service scheme.
The estimated income under the Health Contributions Act, 1971, for the year 1972-73 is £5 million.
Can the Minister say is that a reduction on the original estimate? Did the Minister not say £5¼ million at the start?
Perhaps it was not quite clear to the House that it was a gross receipt and that, with the abolition of the charge for in-patient hospital services of ten new pence per day, there is a reduction because we no longer receive that money which amounts to £700,000 each year. The net increase in income is £4.3 million.
So the civil servants made two mistakes. If they were including that it should have been £5,950,000 and if they were leaving it out it should have been less than £5 million?
In fairness to the civil servants I do not think they are responsible for it. Perhaps in answering questions in the House I did not make it absolutely clear.
It is a change for a Minister over there to say he erred.
14.
asked the Minister for Health (a) the estimated cost of general practice domiciliary medical services and (b) the percentage population coverage envisaged when the free choice of doctor and chemist scheme is fully implemented on a nation-wide basis.
It is estimated that the total annual cost of the reorganised general medical service will be £7,800,000.
At present 29 per cent of the population is eligible for this service and I have no reason to believe that there will be any significant change in that percentage.
15.
asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the State on whom a demand has been made for the £7 payment under the Health Contributions Act, 1971.
Up to the present approximately 37,000 persons in the self-employed categories have received demands for payment of these contributions from the Revenue Commissioners. Demands on farmers are being issued by the health boards. I am having information compiled as to the numbers on whom demands have been made and would ask the Deputy to repeat her question in this respect in about two weeks time when I would hope to have the information requested.