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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Apr 1959

Vol. 174 No. 3

Written Answers. - Health Service Charges.

52.

asked the Minister for Health if he will state (1) the estimated annual cost of abolishing the Health Service charges payable by persons insured under the Social Welfare Acts, and (2) the estimated cost as a weekly charge to insured workers on an insurance basis, having regard to the total number of Social Welfare insurance stamps sold by the Department of Social Welfare in 1958 or 1959.

As has been explained in reply to similar questions in the past, many persons who receive health services as members of one eligible class could also be properly regarded as members of another eligible class. Many agricultural small-holders are also insured person, and the majority of insured person are also within the terms of the Acts by reason of their being persons whose yearly means do not exceed £800.

For these reasons it is not possible to apportion to any one of the categories of eligible persons the costs or the income arising from the provision of services, and I regret that it would not be possible to furnish an estimate on the lines requested.

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