No. 44/1926:

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT, 1926

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1 Provision of funds for Medical Certification Fund.

2 Certain sums to be transferred from Stamps Sales Account to Medical Certification Fund.

3 Sums to be paid out of Medical Certification Fund.

4 Extension of section 27 of National Health Insurance Act, 1923.

5 Commencement, short title, and construction.

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE CONTINUANCE OF THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION FUND AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AUTHORISE THE PAYMENT OF CERTAIN SUMS RESPECTIVELY INTO AND OUT OF THAT FUND AND ALSO TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE CONTINUANCE OF A CERTAIN ENACTMENT RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF SUMS UNCLAIMED IN THE STAMPS SALES ACCOUNT.

[24th December, 1926.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:—

1.—(1) There shall be debited—

( a ) to the benefit fund of every approved society the sum of fivepence in respect of each member (not being a serving soldier) of that approved society; and

( b ) to the Military Forces (International Arrangements) Insurance Fund the sum of fivepence in respect of each member (not being a serving soldier) of that fund; and

( c ) to the Deposit Contributors' Fund the sum of fivepence in respect of each member of that fund; and

( d ) to the Exempt Persons' Fund the sum of twopence and one halfpenny in respect of each member of that fund.

(2) The several sums directed by the foregoing sub-section to be debited to the benefit fund of every approved society, the Military Forces (International Arrangements) Fund, the Deposit Contributors' Fund, and the Exempt Persons' Fund respectively shall be credited to the Medical Certification Fund.

(3) For the purpose of calculating the total sum to be debited to any fund under this section the total number of members (not being serving soldiers) of a society or fund shall be calculated in such manner as the Irish Insurance Commissioners shall direct.

2.—(1) Subject to the limitations hereinafter prescribed such part as the Irish Insurance Commissioners shall direct of the sums which under section 29 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1918 (which provides for the disposal of sums unclaimed in the Stamps Sales Account) would be carried to the National Health Insurance Central Fund shall, instead of being so carried, be credited to the Medical Certification Fund.

(2) The total amount to be credited to the Medical Certification Fund under this section shall not exceed such sum as, together with the sums to be credited to the said Fund under the foregoing provisions of this Act, shall be sufficient to meet the sums directed by this Act to be paid out of the Medical Certification Fund.

3.—There shall be paid out of the Medical Certification Fund—

( a ) such sums in respect of the year 1926 as the Irish Insurance Commissioners with the approval of the Minister for Finance may determine to be payable to medical practitioners for medical certification, and

( b ) such sum as may be required to meet the cost of obtaining second medical opinions on and from the 1st day of January, 1926, to the 31st day of December, 1926, through the medium of medical referees under the scheme established for that purpose by the Irish Insurance Commissioners with the approval of the Minister for Finance.

4.— Section 27 (which relates to the application of sums unclaimed in the Stamps Sales Account) of the National Health Insurance Act, 1923 (No. 20 of 1923), shall continue in force until the 31st day of December, 1926.

5.—(1) This Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on and shall be in force and have effect as on and from the 1st day of January, 1926.

(2) This Act may be cited as the National Health Insurance Act, 1926 , and shall be construed as one with the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1925.

(3) The National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1925 and this Act may be cited together as the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1926.