asked the Minister for Health if, having regard to the income qualifications of the Disabled Persons (Maintenance) Allowance Regulations, 1954 whereby the income of any relative residing with the applicant must be taken into account, he will arrange to have eligibility judged on the income of the applicant alone.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Disabled Persons Allowance
20.
I presume that the Deputy's question relates to the provision made in section 69 of the Health Act, 1970, whereby in calculating means for the purpose of determining entitlement to a disabled persons maintenance allowance, only the applicant's own means and those of his spouse, if any, will be taken into account.
However, as I indicated in reply to a question on this matter, on 12th April, 1972, the implementation of this provision has been deferred pending availability of finance to meet the additional expenditure involved.
Would the Minister know what the extra cost would be of implementing this immediately?
I have not got the exact figure but something of the order of £1,250,000.
Is it not the case that the Minister indicated in his reply on 12th April that he was instructing the CEOs to be more lenient in computing means in this matter and, if this is the case, could he give me any estimate of the cost of this extra leniency he is proposing and say if there will be a significant difference as between that and the cost of implementing the scheme as such?
I could not say, but am suggesting that in that situation they will examine the case very carefully. This is the only financial clause in the Health Act of 1970 which has not been implemented. All other arrangements for providing service to people from public funds have been implemented. This is the last one to be implemented.
Ophthalmological and ENT service—is it included in that?
I think so.
I do not think it is. Perhaps the Minister might have a look at it.
I was thinking of the main cost services, not the minor ones.
I do not think that an ophthalmological service is exactly minor.
The middle income drug assistance and so forth are what I was thinking of.