Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a health levy exemption will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12501/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Contribution was introduced by virtue of the Health Contributions Act 1979 and came into effect on the 6th April of that year. The contributions are levied on income at a percentage rate set in pursuance of the Health Contributions Act and are paid over to the Minister for Health and Children in respect of the Vote for the Health Service Executive. The current rate of contribution is 2% of gross income up to €1,925 per week or €100,100 per annum and 2.5% on the balance of income in excess of those amounts in a contribution year. Subject to exemptions, the rate of contribution is applicable to all persons over the age of sixteen with reckonable income, earnings or emoluments.

The exemptions, as outlined in Section 11 of the Act, are those whose income does not exceed €480 per week, those who are fully eligible for health services as set out in Section 45 of the Health Act 1970 (i.e. medical cardholders in this State, including those workers covered under EC Regulation 1408/71), recipients of a Social Welfare Widow's/Widower's Pension, One-parent Family Payment or Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, as well as those in receipt of a Widow'/Widower's pension acquired under the social security legislation of an EU member State.

When the primary legislation was enacted no upper age limit applied to the health contribution. However, as the Deputy is aware, following the announcement in Budget 2001, full eligibility for health services under Section 45 of the Health Act was granted to those aged 70 and over, effectively placing an upper age limit of 69 years on liability to pay health contributions.

As the Health Contribution is not in fact granted to an individual but is rather levied upon an individual's reckonable income, I have asked officials in my Department to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.