asked the Minister for Health (a) the number of persons in the country holding medical cards, (b) the amount received by each health authority as payment for maintenance in hospital for the latest available year, (c) the amount paid by each health authority for maintenance of patients in voluntary hospitals and (d) overall cost of the present health services for the latest available year.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

(b) and (c)

FOOTNOTE:

The figures in column (2) do not include receipts from persons accommodated in County Homes and similar institutions. The figures in column (3) include payments for services in hospitals operated by other health authorities as well as for services in voluntary hospitals. Separate figures are not readily available but the total payments by health authorities for maintenance of patients in voluntary hospitals amounted to £5,534,000 in the year ended 31st March, 1968. The figures shown are taken from accounts, some of which are still subject to audit.

(d) Cost of Health Services for year ended 31st March, 1968.

(Capital expenditure on hospital building etc, in the same year amounted to £3,627,000).