asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that expenditure on health services in 1972 per head of population in the Republic amounts to approximately £30 per person while current expenditure in Northern Ireland is about £53 per person; and if he will indicate the measures he proposes to introduce to bring about parity of services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services Expenditure.
22.
I would refer the Deputy to my lengthy reply of 9th December last to questions from Deputy Hogan relating to per capita expenditure on health services here and in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I indicated on that occasion that the additional cost of extending all our services to the entire population would be of the order of £30 million a year.
A change in the categories eligible for our health services which would bring them into conformity with those for Northern Ireland is not provided for in our existing health legislation and no decision has been taken in favour of its amendment.