S.I. No. 278/1971:

HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS REGULATIONS, 1971.

HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS REGULATIONS, 1971.

The Minister for Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 and 12 of the Health Contributions Act, 1971 (No. 21 of 1971), hereby makes the following Regulations:--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Contributions Regulations, 1971.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on 1st day of October, 1971.

3. In these Regulations--

"the Act" means the Health Contributions Act, 1971 (No. 21 of 1971);

"the Act of 1970" means the Health Act, 1970 (No. 1 of 1970).

4. Section 4 of the Act shall apply to all classes of employed contributors within the meaning of the Social Welfare Act, 1952 (No. 11 of 1952), other than male and female contributors whose employment is mainly in agriculture and female employed contributors whose employment is mainly in domestic service.

5. In the case of any married couple resident together, each of whom has limited eligibility for services under Part IV of the Act of 1970, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Where one of the couple but not the other is a person to whom section 4 or 5 of the Act applies in any period, a health contribution shall not be payable by the other in respect of that period;

(b) Where neither one of the couple is a person to whom section 4 or 5 of the Act applies, a health contribution shall not be payable by the wife in respect of any period for which payment has been made by her husband.

6. (1) "Contribution year" for the purposes of this article means the period commencing on 1st October in any year and ending on 30th September in the following year.

(2) Health contributions payable at the rate specified in section 3 (1) (b) of the Act in respect of any contribution year shall be due and payable on the first day of that contribution year.

(3) A person who has paid a health contribution in respect of a contribution year at the rate specified in section 3 (1) (b) of the Act and for whom health contributions at the rate specified in section 3 (1) (a) of the Act have been paid by himself or his employer in respect of any period in that year shall be entitled to recover the amount by which the total of the health contributions so paid in respect of that year exceeds £7.80.

7. (1) Payment of health contributions at the rate specified in section 3 (1) (b) of the Act shall be made

(a) in the case of a person referred to in section 46 (1) (c) of the Act of 1970, to the appropriate health board, and

(b) in any other case, to the Collector-General), Health Contributions Section, Áras Brugha, Dublin 1.

(2) Any person who is liable for payment of health contributions to the Collector-General shall complete and forward to the Collector-General a form of application for registration as a person with limited eligibility for services under Part IV of the Act of 1970, unless he has already been notified by the Collector-General that he has been so registered.

8. (1) Any person who receives a demand from the Collector-General] for a health contribution under section 3 (1) (b) of the Act may by giving notice in writing to the Collector-General within twenty-one days from the date of the demand appeal against the demand for payment of the said health contribution and the notice of appeal shall specify the grounds on which it is made.

(2) If the Collector-General and the appellant fail to reach agreement or if any dispute arises in regard to a person's yearly income the Collector-General shall remit the appeal or dispute to an appeals officer appointed by the Minister.

(3) An appeals officer shall--

(a) consider all matters relevant to the appeal and the evidence submitted by the appellant and may request the appellant to furnish any additional information or evidence that may be required;

(b) determine the yearly income and whether a health contribution is payable.

(4) The determination of an appeals officer shall be in writing signed by him and shall be sent as soon as may be to the appellant and the Collector-General.

9. All sums paid over to the Minister in accordance with section 8 of the Act shall be appropriated in aid of the Vote for Health.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Health this 27th

day of September, 1971.

ERSKINE CHILDERS,

Minister for Health.

The Minister for Social Welfare consents to these Regulations.

Dated this 27th day of September, 1971.

JOSEPH BRENNAN,

Minister for Social Welfare.

The Minister for Finance consents to these Regulations.

Dated this 27th day of September, 1971.

SEOIRSE Ó COLLA,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations deal with determination of liability for, and method of payment of, health contributions by persons with limited eligibility under the Health Contributions Act, 1971 (No. 21 of 1971).