asked the Minister for Health if he will state the estimated annual cost of the services proposed in the Health Bill, 1952.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Health Services.
It is not possible to give an estimate of the "annual" cost of the services proposed in the Health Bill, 1952. The cost in any particular year will depend on a number of factors which cannot be determined at this stage, e.g., the extent to which local authorities may make charges for institutional services, the speed at which different local authorities will be able to make the proposed benefits available, etc. I hope, however, to make a further statement regarding costs on the Second Reading of the Bill.