asked the Minister for Health the extra yield in a full year expected from the 150 per cent increase in health contributions which the Government is committed to as part of its Coalition programme.

9.

asked the Minister for Health the expected extra yield in a full year from the 150 per cent increase in health contributions for each of the following groups: (1) employees, (2) the self-employed and (3) farmers.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together and to circulate the information in a tabular statement with the Official Report. Following is the statement:

Yields from Health Contributions on Proposed New Rates

Estimated extra yield in a full calendar year on the basis of the proposed new contribution rates and no upper income ceiling and income levels on which the estimate for 1981 was based.

* Farmers with other trades or professions.

The figures involved are quite simple and I am surprised the Minister has found it necessary to circulate them in a tabular statement. Will the Minister not agree that the present yield in the health charges is approximately £50 million per annum and that the plans put forward by the Coalition Government involve an increase of a further £89 million? I am not surprised the Minister wants to circulate that figure in a tabular statement. Will he confirm from the figures he has before him that this is the case?

I have not the information sought by the Deputy. However, I can confirm that the estimated total yield from health contributions at present rates and conditions for the calendar year 1981 is £48.6 million which is comprised as follows: employees and others whose health contributions are collected under the PAYE system such as non-salaried company directors, occupational pensioners and so on, £42.7 million; self-employed, that is those whose health contributions are assessed in connection with assessment for income tax under Schedule D, including excepted farmers, £2.9 million; farmers, other than excepted farmers, who are billed directly by the health board £3 million. I have no further information before me but if the Deputy puts down a question after he reads the tabular statement I shall be happy to supply it.

The Deputy may ask a final supplementary question.

I wish to point out that the Minister took two questions together. The Minister has highlighted the fact that in the present situation employees will pay £42.7 million, the self-employed will pay £2.9 million and farmers will pay £3 million. I ask the Minister to let us know what increase will arise in each of the sectors. The figures I have worked on are £44 million, £3 million and £3 million which are very close to the information given by the Minister. I ask him to confirm that the gross income will be £110 million, £7.5 million and £7.5 million. This means that the extra for the PAYE employees will be £66 million, for the self-employed, £4.5 million, and for farmers £4.5 million. There will also be further increases, due to the raising of the limit.

The Deputy is making a speech. He should ask a question.

The Deputy asked a question. He asked the Minister to confirm what he said.

I am not confirming or denying it. The Deputy will get the information in the form of a tabular statement. I have not the information requested by the Deputy on that matter.

I am calling Question No. 10.

Question No. 8 asked the Minister the extra yield in a full year but the Minister has not replied.

Chair.

If the Deputy found the answer unsatisfactory he can seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

On a point of order, Question No. 8 asked for a specific figure but the Minister has said that he has not that information. It is totally unacceptable that a Minister should refuse to give a specific figure asked for in a Dáil question.

The Minister did not say he refused to give the figure. He said he did not have the figure.

In accordance with procedure in this House, I informed the Deputy that the information will be supplied in the form of a tabular statement that will be circulated with the Official Report. That is the normal procedure in this House. I cannot give any more information on it.

It is only one figure.

What I have done is the normal procedure of the House.

I am calling Question No. 10.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply given by the Minister, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

10.