asked the Minister for Health if she agrees with the practice whereby (i) health boards refund the same amount of the old age pension to both contributory and non-contributory long-term patients and (ii) British pensioners are not allowed any benefit in respect of the advantage of sterling over the IR£; and if this practice is adopted by all health boards or only by the South Eastern Health Board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Refunds.
15.
The cost of maintaining long-term patients in health board institutions is far in excess of the amounts paid to such patients by way of old age pensions from whatever source.
However, all health boards generally allow long-term patients to retain certain amounts from their pensions to enable them to purchase personal items, for example, newspapers, magazines, sweets, tobacco and so forth. The amounts allowed to be retained are increased from time to time. In the case of the South Eastern Health Board the amount allowed to be retained are pensioners is one-quarter of the pension subject to a minimum of £8.65 per week. Patients who are not capable of handling money are provided with benefits in kind. I consider that this arrangement is fair and reasonable.
With regard to the application of any advantage of sterling over the IR£ in respect of British pensioners, the practice varies from health board to health board. Some health boards, including the South-Eastern Health Board, do convert pensions paid in pounds sterling to IR£, others do not.
With all due respect to the Minister she did not answer the first part of the question. Contributory old age pensioners receive a greater allowance than non-contributory old age pensioners. The difference is about £4 or £5, but the amount that is handed back in health board institutions is identical. The contributory old age pensioner gets no advantage whatsoever. Would the Minister not agree that that is an unfair system?
As I said in my reply, it varies from health board to health board. In the case of the South Eastern Health Board each pensioner receives £8.65p per week. That represents a quarter of the old age contributory pension to those aged 80 years and over. British pensions are converted into punts. If it is less than £8.65p the shortfall is made up by the board. If it is more the patient gets the benefit of it. Health boards vary. The aim is to provide what is reasonable for the patient. There is a possibility of having a unified system. I am prepared to consider that.
I am merely asking the Minister about the justice of the case. If the State sees fit to give the contributory old age pensioner an extra sum of money, should that not also be the case proportionately in the institutions?
It is a matter primarily for the health boards' interpretation. I would be prepared to take up that aspect with the health boards.
Please do. As regards the lack of parity between the Irish punt and the £ sterling, I do not agree with the Minister. I should like her to check to see that the benefit of sterling is being given to all patients in all institutions. I do not believe that is the case. Does the Minister believe it is the case?
Not in all institutions. Some health boards do not. The Mid-Western Health Board, the Eastern Health Board, the North-Western Health Board, the North-Eastern Health Board and the Western Health Board do not convert.
Would the Minister agree that is an unsatisfactory situation?
That is a matter we could also pursue with the health boards.
It seems that the health boards——
The Deputy has asked quite a number of supplementaries.
It is an extremely wide-ranging question.
It is hard to be categorical about it. Varying amounts of refunds are made and in some areas patients may get more.
These questions would be more relevant to the debate on the Health Estimate.
I am asking the Minister is it not only just that, if there is a differential between the values of the two currencies, the patients should be the beneficiaries rather than the institutions, the health boards or the State.
I agree, but I should like to make the point that in the case of some of the health boards who do not allow for the variation in currency the allowance may be greater than it is in other health boards who do allow for the variation.