asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the details of the proposed extension of hospital services announced by him in August last.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Services Extension.
16.
The scheme of improvements in the health services which I announced last August will extend the following services to the whole population:
(1) Free hospital in-patient services.
(2) Free hospital out-patient services.
(3) Free maternity services.
(4) Free infant welfare services.
(5) A scheme of assistance towards the cost of drugs and medicines under which no family will be required to pay more than £4 per month for drugs and medicines.
The additional persons brought into the health scheme will pay the 15p per week, or £7 per year, contribution which eligible persons are now paying towards the cost of services for themselves and dependants.
Is the Minister satisfied that by April or May of next year he will have available all the necessary medical personnel and their agreement to the operation of the services to which he has referred?
I am confident that I will.
If that is so, why did the Minister earlier indicate that at the moment it was not possible to satisfy the justifiable needs of children attending primary schools?
I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.
He does not know himself.
I was asked a specific question.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Have the Deputies opposite got their tongues back after Monaghan? I thought they had lost them.
(Interruptions.)
Will Deputies please desist and allow questions to proceed?
I am sorry that I must make one statement before I ask the question. The Minister earlier indicated that in respect of services which were the due entitlement of children attending primary schools—and, indeed, of those in third level education—it was not possible to satisfy those because we had not sufficient medical personnel and dentists. Since he now speaks of an extension of the overall medical scheme I am asking him is he satisfied that by next April he will have all the doctors and dentists which this extension requires?
As I told Deputy O'Connell—I think it was—the reason we had not an adequate dental service is because we have not sufficient dentists. We have sufficient consultants.
Question No. 17.
The Minister said earlier there was a shortage of doctors.
I do not recall mentioning doctors; I said dentists.
Arising out of——
I have allowed a good deal of latitude already.
Just one short question. In view of the Minister's reply regarding the scarcity of dentists would he push the Minister for Education for a quick decision on the Cork dental school?
We have heard that before.
Is it not a fact that it is because of the indolence of the Minister's predecessor in regard to the dental services that we are in this mess today? I, as a member of the health board, know that.
I have already called Question No. 17.