asked the Minister for Health whether he is yet in a position to indicate the extent of supplementary grants from the funds of his Department which will be available for the relief of health rates in the coming financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Rates.
16.
As I have already announced, the Government have decided to provide additional grants towards expenditure on health services in respect of 1970-71 with the object of containing the increases in health rates for that year within reasonable limits. The additional grants are being determined on the basis of information which in some instances has yet to be completed but I hope shortly to notify each health authority of the amount which will be payable.
Thanks very much.
Who inspired you?
Is the Minister aware that health authorities are already preparing their estimates and that it is now they require to know what grants they are getting? Otherwise the effect that the grants will have on the rates cannot be introduced at a later stage in the year. Would the Minister consider that aspects and try to get the information to the local authorities as soon as he can?
We have nearly completed this job and we have been in touch with most of the local authorities about it but I shall see what the position is.
Is the Minister aware that we were promised at one time by a Minister for Health that the health rate would not cost more than 2/6d. in the £ and we were promised that the 1965 health rate would be stablished? Is the Minister aware that many estimates committees have their estimates completed already and that rates are increasing this year in various counties by from 12/- to 20/- in the £? Does he not think that this is a crushing burden on the ratepayers much of which is due to the increased health rate?
I have already replied to that. I have stated that we are giving a further contribution to enable the health rates to be increased only very modestly.
Would the Minister advise authorities who have not yet struck their rates to adjourn the preliminary estimates meeting until such time as the information is available?
It is not yet——
The Minister is not a member of a county council, so he should keep out of this. If he cannot do any good, let him not do any harm.
The officer concerned told me that he was in the process of completing all this.
Meath Health Authority have a meeting on Monday and they will not know what the grant is to be. How will they strike a rate when they do not know?
Will the Minister promise the House that he will stabilise the health rate at what it was in the year 1969?
It is only the beginning of February yet.
The Minister was never a member of a local authority.
I was so.
God bless us.
He should have stayed there longer and got a little more education.
He was an assiduous member of Dublin Corporation when it was a good corporation.
They must have done something to him. That is why he got rid of them.
Will Deputies please cease interrupting?
And Ministers.
And Ministers.
Arising out of the reply——
The Deputy will want the sixpenny can again.
Spread your balm, Deputy.
The Deputy will not put very much into the can anyway. I should like to welcome Deputy Stephen Coughlan back and to say that I am glad he is good health again. One of the great Christian gentlement of our times.
Thank you very much. I shall give the Deputy my blessing. Shall I get down on my knees?
On behalf of the people of County Dublin I want to thank the Minister for——
For nothing.
——his very favourable reply.