asked the Minister for Health if his Department have considered alternative methods of financing the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services.
2.
An inter-departmental working party are at present examining the financing of the health and social welfare services with the following terms of reference:
1) To examine the present system of financing the social welfare and health services and its capacity to meet the requirements of those services in the light of probable future trends and developments and in particular of the present and prospective budgetary constraints.
2) To recommend such changes and improvements in the system as are considered necessary.
3) To prepare a broad outline of any legislation which may be necessary to give effect to those recommendations.
I expect that the committee will be reporting on the very complex problems involved within the next few months.
I take it that this is the inter-departmental committee who have been sitting for some time. Has the Minister anything to say about the proposal which Deputy O'Connell has put forward on a number of occasions about the setting up of an all-party committee of this House to look into the matter? Does one take the place of the other?
They are two separate and distinct things. The one referred to in the question is in connection with the financing of the health services: the other is in connection with the reappraisal of all the health services, particularly in regard to the establishment of the health boards.
I understand that, but, first, could the Minister tell the House in connection with this question anything about his thinking in regard to the establishment of an all-party committee of this House to review the health services in their entirety? Secondly, does he regard it as appropriate that, in a matter of such fundamental public importance as the financing of the health services, an inter-departmental committee is an appropriate body to examine the matter?
As it was appropriate in 1967, I think it is appropriate in 1976.
With all due respect, may I say the Minister has not answered either of my two questions? They are legitimate, straightforward questions: first, has the Minister anything to say about the suggestion that an all-party committee of the House be established; and, secondly, does he consider that this inter-departmental committee can make recommendations of any value in regard to a matter of such fundamental public importance as the financing of the health services?
They are two separate and distinct questions. This refers to the financing of the social services. What was raised here in debate was a review of the health board system since it was established five years ago. That was the the consensus of opinion here in this House, that that sort of committee representing members of the House and possibly some others would be established in order to make this over-all review. This is, if you like, a duplication of an effort which was made in 1967 to consider the financing not alone of social welfare and health but of education as well.
Could the Minister say if I am right in thinking that the inter-departmental committee reviewing the finances of the health services consists purely of representatives of the two Departments for which he is responsible, namely, Health and Social Welfare? Are there any other departmental representatives involved, particularly representatives of the Department of Finance and, secondly, at what level of the public service is this departmental committee carrying out this review—principal officer, clerical officer, or what?
I could not say what the status of the individuals is. I could get the information for the Deputy, if he would like to repeat the question, but the Department of Finance and the Department of the Public Service are represented.
The Minister does not know the level at which this review is being carried out?
No. I could tell the Deputy a lie.
One would imagine the Minister might know.
They are of pretty senior status.