asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will cause inquiries to be made regarding the alleged delay in paying national health benefit to members of the Unified Society, especially when more than one doctor's certificate has been lodged with the society; and whether he is aware that numerous complaints have been made in connection with the matter.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of National Health Benefit.
Responsibility for the payment of national health insurance benefit does not rest on my department, but on the committee of management of Cumann an Arachais Náisiúnta ar Shláinte. I am, however, prepared to have inquiries made in regard to any case in which delay is alleged in the payment of benefit if full particulars of the case are supplied.
The number of complaints which has been received in the department is very small when compared with the number of claims dealt with. In the great majority of these cases any delay which has occurred has been due to the fact that the insured person has failed to give sufficient information to enable his claim to be dealt with.
I am informed by Cumann an Arachais Náisiúnta ar Shláinte that the number of persons in receipt of benefit payments is 28,700, and in almost 98 per cent. of the cases cheques are issued by the society within 24 hours of the receipt of the requisite medical certificate.