asked the Minister for Health the total amount collected in health contributions in 1979 and in each subsequent year to date.

I will circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement giving these details.

The statement is as follows:

Receipts from Health Contributions

*Includes £1.4 million arrears collected by health boards and retained by them under the Health Contributions (Amendment) Regulations, 1985.

**Includes £1.1 million arrears collected by health boards and retained by them under the Health Contributions (Amendment) Regulations, 1986.

May I have a projected figure for 1987?

I do not have such a figure for 1987.

That is quite understandable.The Minister may not have this information readily available, but can he tell me at a later date, the percentage represented by the figure collected of what was due in each of those years? I doubt if the Minister has this data with him now.

I do not have these figures with me now. I can give the figure relating to this year, but not the projected figure to the end of the year. To date, £83,478,242 has been collected, that is to 31 October 1987.

Within the next week or so, could the Minister give me as a percentage what those figures represent of the total due in each of those years?

Yes, I shall try to arrange that for the Deputy, but there may be a difficulty in that it is an estimated amount that is sent out.

Even so, I shall be happy with that.

I can get the percentage of the estimated amounts.

Is the Minister or his Department satisfied with the return of health contributions from those sectors other than the PAYE sector and has he any plans to improve the collection of health charges, with particular reference to the arrears relating to the self-employed and farming sectors?

Naturally, I am concerned that all health contributions which are due would be collected. In the years 1985 and 1986 the health boards succeeded in collecting arrears that had been outstanding for some time. Certainly, anything I can do to ensure that all health contributions are collected will be done, although now it is primarily the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners.

Is the Minister aware that the Comptroller and Auditor General has expressed concern about the arrears outstanding in health contributions and can he tell us how much was outstanding at 31 December 1986? Was it of the order of £5 million?

The question put down by Deputy Deasy did not ask what the amount outstanding was but, as I have said, its collection is now the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners. The health boards no longer have the responsibility for collecting health contributions.