Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is aware that retired teachers who will not benefit from a medical card are required to continue to pay a 2% health levy while also meeting the cost of hospital and general practitioner charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13224/09]

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. Among the exemptions and in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008, any person who is over 70 years of age is exempt from paying the contributions.