asked the Minister for Health how he proposes to effect the reduction in expenditure, provided in the Book of Estimates, in each of the following: (a) £140,000 cut in the £150,000 grant to the VHI and (b) £40,000 cut in the training scheme for health inspectors; and if any reduction in the level of services will be effected as a result.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Health Grants.
19.
Arising from the undertaking given under the national understanding, 1979, to increase the eligibility limit for certain health services from £5,500 to £7,000, it was necessary to make provision for the cost of interim arrangements to compensate persons in that income range for certain medical or medical insurance expenses. The scheme was administered by the Voluntary Health Insurance Board and £150,000 was provided for it in 1980. The arrangement terminated on 31 May 1980. It was necessary, however, to make a small provision of £1,000 for it in the 1981 Estimate to meet late claims.
Subhead O of the Health Estimate provides for the cost of training health inspectors. Responsibility for the training arrangements was transferred to the Dublin Vocational Education Committee in 1980 and my Department's liability for formal training costs is to be phased out over a transitional period which will end in 1982. It is anticipated that the provision in the subhead for 1981 will be adequate to meet the expenses arising for my Department in that year. The Deputy will accordingly appreciate that the small provision for 1981 in these cases will not result in any reduction in the level of services.
Under what subhead of what Vote will the provision for training schemes now appear?
It will presumably appear under the Vote of the Minister for Education. It is under Vocational Education.