asked the Minister for Health if the examination of the feasibility of introducing a contributory scheme to finance part of the cost of health services to persons in the middle income group, mentioned in the Third Programme: Economic and Social Development, is yet completed; if so, if he will publish the results; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services.
14.
As the Deputy will appreciate, this subject is a complex one which has required the attention of a number of other Government Departments as well as my own. After considerable inter-Departmental discussion, the views of all Departments concerned are now finalised. The Government will consider these soon and will take a decision in the matter of publication of the results of the examination of the issue.
15.
asked the Minister for Health the present annual public health expenditure in (i) Dublin city, (ii) Dún Laoghaire, (iii) Dublin county excluding the boroughs, (iv) County Wicklow and (v) County Kildare.
The estimated revenue expenditure on health, including mental health, services for 1969-70 in the areas referred to by the Deputy is: Dublin city, £10,350,000; Dún Laoghaire, £906,000; Dublin county, excluding the boroughs, £1,682,000; County Wicklow, £1,065,000; County Kildare, £999,000. These figures take account of receipts other than health services grant.
16.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of (i) Dublin city, (ii) Dublin county, (iii) Wicklow county and (iv) Kildare county the contribution made by the State, including that made by way of relief of rates from the agricultural grant, in respect of health services.
On the basis of the estimated net revenue expenditure on health services for the current financial year the contribution by the State towards the cost, including that made by way of relief of rates from the agricultural grant, is estimated at £5,633,000 for Dublin city, £1,021,000 for Dublin county, excluding Dublin city and Dún Laoghaire, £714,000 for Wicklow county and £717,000 for Kildare county.
17.
asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons not eligible for free health services under the Health Act, 1953.
Eligibility and ineligibility vary as between different services. For example, about 10 per cent of the population, or 280,000 persons (i.e. those outside the lower and middle income groups) are estimated not to be eligible for the hospital and specialist services and the maternity services; for some others, who are eligible for these services, they are not available entirely free as moderate charges may be made. On the other hand, about 70 per cent of the population (i.e. those outside the lower income group), or about 2,000,000 persons, are ineligible for the free general medical service; and for the infectious diseases service and the school health examination service for children in national schools, there is no means test.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will circulate with the Official Report a full statement as respects eligibility for the health services.
Following is the statement:
Statement as respects eligibility for the health services
|
Service |
Eligible Categories |
|
General Medical Service, with supply of medicines, drugs, and appliances and district nursing service. |
Lower income group (medicines etc. are available in certain circumstances to persons outside that group |
|
General Institutional and Specialist Services (including services for the mentally handicapped). |
Lower and middle income groups and, for defects found at school health examination, children attending national schools. |
|
Mental Treatment Service. |
Lower and middle income groups. |
|
Maternity and Infant Care Service. |
Lower and middle income groups. |
|
Milk for Mothers and Children. |
Lower income group. |
|
Maternity Cash Grants. |
Lower income group. |
|
Child Welfare Clinic Service. |
Children under six years of age. |
|
School Health Examination Service. |
Pupils of national schools. |
|
Dental Ophthalmic and Aural Services. |
Children attending national schools or child welfare clinics (for defects discovered at school health examination or at such clinics); the lower income group. |
|
Infectious Diseases Service (including hospital and sanatorium care). |
All groups. |
|
Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Allowances. |
Those whose circumstances warrant payment of allowances. |
|
Rehabilitation Service. |
All groups. |
|
Disabled Persons (Maintenance) Allowances. |
Those whose circumstances warrant payment of allowances. |
|
Maintenance in county homes. |
Lower income group. |