asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the position of a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding his health contributions as he is a small farmer in bad health and poor financial circumstances who is being charged an admission fee of £100; and if he will give the matter every consideration with a view to waiving the fee.
Written Answers. - County Cork Farmer.
571.
The person concerned has arrears of health contributions amounting to £206.11. This includes arrears dating back to 1977-78. At present, farmers owe £10.5 million in health contributions. This is grossly unfair to the PRSI workers who have no option but to pay, and indefensible in the present tight budgetary situation when, as the Deputy is no doubt aware, health boards are having to effect significant reductions in expenditure to meet budgetary targets.
The £100 hospital admission charge was introduced as an inducement to defaulters to pay the arrears of health contributions. There was considerable publicity on the matter at the time in national and local newspapers and among the farmers' organisations and I would be slow to accept that the person about whom representations are now being made was not aware of the situation. There is no power in the regulations for the waiving of the charge in such a case. It is suggested that the person concerned might bring his situation to the attention of the health board and discuss appropriate payment arrangements with them.