asked the Minister for Health if all householders are being asked to pay £7 under the Health Contributions Act, 1971; and how and when contributions will be collected.

Householders as such are not liable to pay these contributions. They are payable by persons with limited eligibility for health services in the three broad categories of those insured under the Social Welfare Acts, self-employed persons under the income limit of £1,600 a year and farmers under £60 valuation. The one contribution covers a person and his dependants.

In the case of persons insured under the Social Welfare Acts, contributions are collected by a supplement to the stamps for social welfare purposes. Contributions from self-employed persons, other than farmers, are collected through the Revenue Commissioners and health boards will collect them from farmers. In both these cases, annual demands for payment will be made by the collecting authorities about this time of the year.

Could the Minister say by how much will the revenue from these contributions exceed what the Minister has given recently partially to stabilise or put a ceiling to local rates in respect of health?

The gross revenue going to the Exchequer for the year will be about £5 million but the non-payment of the 50p per day which is now abolished will reduce that sum by something like £800,000.