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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 1947

Vol. 109 No. 5

Committee on Finance. - Health Services (Financial Provisions) Bill, 1947—Money Resolution.

I move:—

That it is expedient to authorise such payments out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas as are necessary to give effect to any Act of the present Session to provide for the making of grants in respect of health services, and for certain other matters connected with the matter aforesaid.

On the Money Resolution, I would like to point out that while you are intending to provide a substantial increase by way of State grant, which we all welcome, at the same time there is a big expenditure contemplated here. I think it is desirable that every section of the community should contribute to health services. The Minister knows, because of his experience of our main industry, that that industry contributes by far the biggest amount. I think the aim should be to provide more State assistance than the 50 per cent. specified. The tendency is to throw too great a burden on the agricultural industry. I suggest to the Minister that his concern should be to ensure that all sections of the community make a fair contribution. People in receipt of big salaries will not, and do not, contribute an equitable amount as compared with the people living on the land.

In this Bill we are merely telling the local authorities that we expect a big expansion in health services but we are not expecting the ratepayers to contribute anything to the extra expenditure for some years to come. In eight or nine years' time, if we are here, we will then ask the local authorities to bear the cost and when they reach that stage it will be time enough to discuss the matter. As regards relieving the agricultural community, I think that should be dealt with under the agricultural grant. That grant, by the way, is fairly substantial now. It is something over £3,000,000 this year.

May I take it from what the Minister has said that it will take eight or nine years before the local authorities will be asked to do anything more?

Our present estimation is that it will take eight or nine years before we can ask the local authorities to pay more.

Resolution agreed to.
Resolution reported and agreed to.
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