asked the Minister for Social Welfare the current estimated cost of extending optical and dental benefit to wives of insured workers; and when it is hoped to introduce such a scheme.

The estimated cost of extending the social insurance optical and dental benefit schemes to wives of insured workers is estimated to be of the order of £5.6 million a year.

Having regard to the present state of the public finances I regret that I do not have the resources to meet an extension of these schemes. I propose, however, to keep this in mind for consideration when financial circumstances improve.

Women who hold medical cards or whose husbands hold medical cards are already covered by the schemes of optical and dental benefits administered by the health boards and to this extent cases of hardship are catered for under existing arrangements.

Will the Minister confirm that this item of policy is part of the Government's programme? Will he confirm that it will not be long-fingered endlessly as it has been in recent years? Will the Minister agree that the fact that many women do without dental and optical benefits to the long term detriment of their own health cannot be allowed to continue? This proposal while it will cost money is one that must be given a priority and I should like to know if the Minister will give a firm commitment to introduce measures to deal with this in the near future.

I agree that this matter has been long-fingered for many years. That is why I said I propose to keep it in mind for consideration when financial circumstances improve. The Deputy is aware of the difficulties encountered this year in meeting all the commitments under the social welfare code. Unfortunately, it was not possible to introduce new schemes but that is not to say that the matter will be forgotten. It will not be forgotten. It will be foremost in my mind and at the earliest possible opportunity a scheme will be introduced.

The Minister said that persons who were holders of general medical service cards were entitled to free dental service. Would he accept that the health boards are unable to deliver a service to holders of general medical service cards because of lack of finance and that the service is not being administered?

That is a separate question.

Is it intended to transfer the social welfare dental service to the Department of Health?

They are separate questions.

This question deals with the cost of extending dental benefits to the wives of insured workers.

Would the Minister accept that the health boards are not delivering a service to these medical card holders?

This question deals with insured people.

In his reply the Minister said some of these people were catered for under this service.

Would the Minister agree that there is a need to extend——

The Minister answered that.

Has the Minister any estimated figure of the number of wives who do not qualify at present and what would the cost be to the State?

I gave the cost in my reply. The estimated number would be approximately 300,000 wives and to make that number eligible for these services would cost £5.6 million.

Would the Minister confirm that the extension of benefit to wives will not be dealt with by the Social Welfare Bill which it is intended to introduce later this year, eliminating discrimination——

That is a separate question.

The Deputy must be aware that we are dealing with an EEC directive——

This question deals with the cost of extending certain benefits. We cannot discuss a Social Welfare Bill we have not seen. A final supplementary from Deputy Flaherty.

Would the Minister give some details of how the figures of £5.6 million and 300,000 were reached? Is there an average level of take-up? I must congratulate the Minister on producing that figure, because this is the first time a proper estimate of the cost has been presented. Having this figure——

A question, please.

May I have the details of how the figure of £5.6 million was arrived at?

It is estimated that the extension of the dental benefit scheme to the wives of insured workers would add approximately 300,000 to the number of persons covered at present and would cost of the order of £4.6 million for the first year of operation. This would add about .1 to the current PRSI rate. On the optical benefit side, on the same basis of 300,000 wives, it is estimated that it would cost in the region of £1 million for the first year of operation, adding .025 per cent to the current PRSI rate. The total estimated cost of extending the dental and optical benefits to the spouses of insured persons would be about £5.6 million, adding about .125 per cent to the current PRSI rate.