asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the County Kildare Board of Health have written to certain ratepayers demanding payment for domestic servants treated in the hospital three years ago, and if he will state under what authority these demands are being made.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PAYMENT FOR HOSPITAL TREATMENT.
I understand that the County Board of Health follow the practice mentioned by the Deputy. Under Section 62 of the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, 1862, as applied to the County Board of Health and Public Assistance by Articles 12 and 19 of the Kildare County Scheme, as amended by the Kildare County Scheme Order, 1923, the master or mistress of a domestic servant is, so long as the service continues, liable for the cost of maintenance of such servant in a hospital provided under the county scheme.
Is the Minister aware that it only seems that in certain cases it has been enforced, and that there have been many cases where no such account has been sent in? Is the Minister also aware that this has been outstanding for three years, and that it is not a case that they only object to pay for their domestics, but that they seem to be in the dark as to how the matter stands? Is he further aware that there seems to be differentiation in regard to certain people?