asked the Minister for Health the estimated total number of Irish people currently denied free hospitalisation despite paying their weekly health contributions; and the estimated annual income to the State derived from such contributions.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Health Contributions .
9.
: The weekly health contribution of 50p is payable only by employees in insurable employment who have entitlement to limited eligibility services.
Where a person in insurable employment has not got limited eligibility, the employer continues to pay the weekly health contribution as part of the social insurance contribution as no special value stamp is available to meet such circumstances.
In such cases the employer is not entitled under the Act to deduct the amount of health contributions from his employee's weekly wages. He is, of course, entitled to a refund of such moneys by applying to the Department of Social Welfare.