asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State of (1) abolishing the present means test for health services and (2) providing a free-for-all health service for the community.

It has been calculated by my Department that to extend the present services, other than those designed to provide simply for maintenance, such as the county home service and the payment of allowances to disabled persons, to the entire population, without charge and subject to some modifications which these extensions would render necessary, would result in a total expenditure from central and local taxation of the order of £35 million a year, excluding capital expenditure. This would represent an increase of some £13 million on the estimated expenditure in the present financial year. On the existing financial basis, £6.5 million of this annual increase would be met from local taxation and £6.5 million would represent the additional cost to the Exchequer.

Will the Minister tell the House how the Labour Party and the Fine Gael Party will do this without increasing taxation?

Go on, you old cod. Look after your widows.

The Deputy should ask the Balbriggan widow that question and see what answer she gives him. She will scatter him.

Let the Minister answer that one.

Why does he not write the question himself?

I am well able to.

Why do you not?

If the Minister for Education finds the provision of additional money for expenditure on education no object, would the Minister for Health tell us why he is restricted in the provision of money for proper health services?

That does not arise on this question.

I am not responsible for implementing the wilder dreams of the Labour Party or the Fine Gael Party.