asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that because of the operation of the General Institutional and Specialist Services (Temporary) Regulations, 1954, the Dublin Corporation will have to increase the rates by 8d. in the £, and, if so, if he will take immediate steps to relieve the ratepayers of this expense, which heretofore has been borne by the insurance funds administered by the Department of Social Welfare.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Rates.
I am aware that, in common with every other health authority in the country, Dublin Corporation will have to find funds for giving effect to the provisions of the Health Act, 1953, but I have no precise information as to the amount of the increase in the rates in Dublin arising from the General Institutional and Specialist Services (Temporary) Regulations, 1954. Expenditure of Dublin Corporation on health services ranks for recoupment, as to 50 per cent. from the Exchequer.
The regulations mentioned apply to persons (e.g., the former public assistance class) in respect of whom no contribution was ever made by the Department of Social Welfare, as well as to the insured persons who were entitled to avail themselves of the hospital and specialist services formerly administered by that Department. The cost of these services for insured persons was borne, not on the contributions of insured workers or their employers, but on the Exchequer, but, as I have already indicated, the effect of the provision of the Health Act, 1953, in relation to these services is that in future citizens as ratepayers will be bearing half the cost which formerly they bore as general taxpayers.