asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate how the figure of £30 million, stated to be the cost of putting health and social services in the Twenty-six Counties on a par with those in the Six Counties, is calculated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health and Social Services.
7.
The estimate of additional cost is calculated by reference to the differences in eligibility for services between here and Northern Ireland.
Most of the additional cost would arise in extending to the whole population the general medical services, which are at present available free to about one-third of the population, and the dental, ophthalmic and aural services, which are available to about the same number of persons. The estimated cost of extending these services would probably be of the order of £25 million.