asked the Minister for Health if accurate figures are available as to the number of people eligible for free hospitalisation and the source or sources of this information.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Hospitalisation.
2.
Accurate figures on this are not available. It is estimated that something over 85 per cent of the population are eligible for free hospital services. The main sources of information which contribute to the estimate are the 1971 Census of Population, the General Medical Services (Payments) Board, the Department of Social Welfare, the Revenue Commissioners and the Voluntary Health Insurance Board.
Might I ask the Minister if any attempt will be made to obtain accurate figures for this, or how will we be able to know? Is it the intention of his Department to instruct health boards to issue cards of entitlement to hospital services?
Yes, that is under review at present. It will also come very much into focus in connection with the new arrangements for the social insurance contribution which we hope will come in on 1st April, 1979; from then on I do not think there will be any problem. Whether we will do anything in the meantime or not is at present under consideration.