asked the Minister for Health if the Eastern Health Board propose to cut back to the extent of almost £¾ million on the following services: the free milk scheme, the handicapped children scheme, the dental service, medicine costs refunds, the long term illness scheme, the school examination scheme, the board for the employment of the blind and almost as much on the boarded out children scheme, the disabled persons' maintenance allowance, the infectious diseases allowance, home helps, meals on wheels, section 65 grants, maintenance of premises grant schemes, ophthalmic and aural treatment and the port health and tuberculosis services; if it is intended to hold vacant posts open; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the Government's allocation to this board and to each of the other health boards.
Written Answers. - Health Schemes Policy.
The proposals mentioned by the Deputy have not, as far as I am aware, been adopted by the Eastern Health Board. I understand, however, many of them were referred to as possibilities in documentation put before the board by their chief executive officer. Examination by my Department of the estimates of total expenditure prepared for the Eastern Health Board indicates that there should not be a deficit in the board's financing for the current year which would call for this range of drastic cut-backs.
This board, in common with the other health boards and with other health agencies, have been asked to achieve economies in the present year in view of the serious economic situation. The actual economies which will need to be made are being discussed in detail between the Department and the various boards and other bodies.