(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Health the annual cost to the State of dental services over the past seven years.

21.

(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Health the annual cost to the State of (a) aural and (b) ophthalmic services over the past seven years.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 21 together, and to circulate with the Official Report a table giving the required information.

Following is the table:

EXPENDITURE of Health Authorities on Dental Services and Aural and Ophthalmic Services.

NOTES:

(1) In the earlier years portion of the cost of these services was accounted for by health authorities under the heading of schools medical services. For this reason the figures shown for these years are part estimated.

(2) The costs of the aural and ophthalmic services are not recorded separately in my Department. The cost of the ophthalmic services, however, forms much the greater part of the expenditure.

(3) Expenditure by the Department of Social Welfare on the Dental and Optical Benefit Schemes operated by that Department is not included in the figures shown.