asked the Minister for Health when enabling legislation in respect of the provisions in the Health Act for ophthalmic, aural and dental services will be introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ophthalmic, Aural and Dental Services.
39.
The provisions of the Health Act, 1970, in relation to dental, ophthalmic and aural services for persons with full eligibility for health services and children under the child health services are already in operation.
The general standard of availability of the services in question has not been adequate, so far, and until this has been raised to a reasonably satisfactory level, it is not proposed to implement the provisions of the Act extending these services to other classes of persons.
Is the Minister aware that the 1953 Health Act provides for these services for those outside the medical card limit and that the enabling legislation has not yet been introduced to provide these services?
This is so, but we hope to recruit another 30 such persons in the very near future. It will not be the end of the road, particularly so far as dental services are concerned, but salaries which were in contention have been resolved. As far as I am aware, 30 more posts will be advertised by the Local Appointments Commission in the near future.
The Minister is aware, I am sure, that there are a number of people who are not eligible and who have applied for eye and nose treatment and they are not included. I want to know how they are to get into hospital or how they will pay a doctor to send them in. A letter was sent out to doctors in June telling them to send only holders of medical cards to these hospitals. How, then, is the middle income group man, the small farmer, for instance, to get into one of these hospitals?
As far as these services are concerned, a big majority of those who have medical cards cannot avail of the services because they are not there. The Deputy suggested that those in the middle income group might get these services. It is relatively easier for one section of the middle income group to obtain these services—those who are in the insured class. Of course they must pay contributions.