asked the Minister for Defence if his Department have any plans to grant free hospitalisation to any category of Old IRA men.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Old IRA Free Hospital Treatment.
163.
The public health services catering for medical and hospital treatment and for institutional care of the aged are fairly extensive and are improving all the time. These services are available to War of Independence veterans in common with other members of the community.
Having regard to the large number of veterans still alive—some 30,000— there would be serious difficulties in providing free hospitalisation for them in military hospitals. I am, however examining the matter to see whether hospital treatment for short periods could be provided by my Department in urgent cases pending removal to other hospitals or institutions.