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Uimhir 26 de 1953.
AN tACHT SLÁINTE, 1953.
[An tiontó oifigiúil].
CUID I.
Reamhraiteach agus Ginearalta.
Gearrtheideal agus comhlua.
1.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Sláinte, 1953, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchta Sláinte, 1947 agus 1953, a ghairm den Phríomh-Acht agus den Acht seo le chéile.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—Ach amháin mar a foráltar a mhalairt go sonrach leis an Acht seo, tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh pé lá nó laethe a ceapfear chuige sin, le hordú nó le horduithe ón Aire faoin alt seo, go ginearálta nó maidir le haon chríoch nó foráil áirithe, agus féadfar laethe éagsúla a cheapadh amhlaidh chun críocha éagsúla agus d'fhorála éagsúla.
An Príomh-Acht agus forléiriú an Phríomh-Achta agus an Achta seo.
3.—(1) San Acht seo ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht Sláinte, 1947 (Uimh. 28 de 1947).
(2) Forléireofar an Príomh-Acht agus an tAcht seo le chéile mar aon Acht amháin.
(3) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fo-ailt (2) den alt seo, déanfar aon tagairt sa Phríomh-Acht don Acht sin, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, d'fhorléiriú mar thagairt don Acht seo freisin.
Cosaint ghinearálta.
4.—(1) Ní déanfar aon ní san Acht seo ná in aon ionstraim faoin Acht seo d'fhorléiriú mar ní a chuireas d'oblagáid ar aon duine leas a bhaint as aon tseirbhís a cuirfear ar fáil faoin Acht seo ná é féin ná aon duine faoina chúram a chur faoi scrúdú ná cóireáil liachta.
(2) Ní bheidh d'oblagáid ar aon duine a bhainfeas leas as aon tseirbhís a cuirfear ar fáil faoin Acht seo é féin ná aon duine faoina chúram a chur faoi scrúdú ná cóireáil liachta atá in aghaidh teagaisc a chreidimh.
Athghairm.
5.—Athghairmtear leis seo na hachtacháin a luaitear sa Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht seo a mhéid a luaitear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
CUID III.
Forais.
Brí an fhocail “foras” a leathnú.
6.—Déantar leis seo an míniú ar an bhfocal “foras” atá i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 2 den Phríomh-Acht a leasú trí “teaghlach contae, teaghlach do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas coirp nó meabhrach” a chur isteach roimh “teaghlach máithreachais”.
Forais agus íclanna ceantair.
7.—(1) Gach foras ceantair nó íclann cheantair a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, á chothabháil ag comharile chontae nó bardas contae-bhuirge i gcáil údaráis chúnaimh phoiblí, measfar, i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo agus dá éis sin, é a bheith curtha ar fáil ag an gcomhairle nó ag an mbardas sin faoi alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht.
(2) I gcás alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht do bhaint le bord cúnaimh nó le bord cúnaimh phoiblí de bhuaidh orduithe faoi alt 45 nó alt 46 den Acht seo a thiocfas i bhfeidhm i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo, measfar i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo agus dá éis sin, gach foras ceantair nó íclann cheantair a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, á chothabháil ag an mbord sin a bheith curtha ar fáil ag an mbord sin faoi alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht.
(3) I gcás foras ceantair nó íclann cheantair a bheith i gcúrsa a thógála ag údarás cúnaimh phoiblí díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, críochnófar an foras nó an íclann sin amhail is nár ritheadh an tAcht seo, agus, ar é a bheith críochnaithe, beidh feidhm ina leith ag fo-alt (1) nó ag fo-alt (2) den alt seo (pé acu is iomchuí).
Stiúradh agus bainistí forais sláinte.
8.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh a bhainfeas le gach foras sláinte, le gach foras sláinte de chineál áirithe nó le foras sláinte áirithe, i dtaobh stiúradh agus bainistí na bhforas nó an fhorais sin.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le toiliú an Aire, rialacha a dhéanamh i dtaobh stiúradh agus bainistí forais sláinte atá á chothabháil aige, i dtaobh rialú na ndaoine a glacfar sa bhforas nó a bheas ag freastal air agus chun glacadh daoine sa bhforas a rialú (lena n-áirítear daoine a ghlacadh ar théarmaí speisialta maidir le híocaíocht agus cóiríocht).
(3) Na rialacháin a rinneadh faoi alt 34 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939) (Uimh. 27 de 1939), agus a bhí bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, measfar gur rialacháin a rinneadh faoin alt seo iad.
(4) Na rialacha a rinneadh nó a meastar a rinneadh faoi alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht agus a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, measfar gur rialacha a rinneadh faoin alt seo iad.
Treorú maidir le seirbhísí forais.
9.—Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú a dhéanfas sé i leith forais sláinte shonraithe, a threorú—
(a) go dtabharfar seirbhísí forais sa bhforas do dhaoine d'aicme a sonrófar do réir staid a sláinte, nó
(b) nach dtabharfar seirbhísí forais sa bhforas do dhaoine d'aicme a sonrófar do réir staid a sláinte,
agus déanfaidh an t-údarás sláinte a bheas ag cothabháil an fhorais do réir an treoruithe sin.
Forais seachtracha.
10.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le toiliú an Aire, comhshocraíocht a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích chun seirbhísí forais a thabhairt d'aon duine nó do dhaoine d'aon aicme, is duine nó daoine atá i dteideal seirbhísí forais d'fháil ón údarás sin seachas faoi alt 26 den Acht seo, i bhforas nach bhfuil á bhainistí ag an údarás sin ná ag údarás sláinte eile.
(2) Íocfaidh an t-údarás sláinte as seirbhísí forais a bhéarfar de bhun comhshocraíochta faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo agus beidh na híocaíochtaí do réir pé scála a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire.
(3) Féadfaidh dhá údarás sláinte comhshocraíocht ar bith a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích chun go dtabharfaidh údarás amháin acu seirbhísí forais thar ceann agus ar chostas an údaráis eile.
(4) Aon chomhshocraíocht a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo agus d fhéadfaí a dhéanamh faoin alt seo i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo, measfar gur comhshocraíocht a rinneadh faoin alt seo í.
Oifigigh d'aístriú ar fhoras sláinte a scor.
11.—(1) Má scoirtear foras sláinte faoi fho-alt (1) nó le hordú faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 11 den Phríomh-Acht agus—
(a) go dtairgfear do dhuine a bhí i seilbh oifige faoi údarás sláinte sa bhforas scortha oifig den tsórt céanna i bhforas sláinte eile faoi bhainistí an údaráis sláinte sin nó faoi bhainistí comhbhoird a gceapann an t-údarás sláinte sin cuid dá chomhaltaí, nó
(b) go dtairgfear do dhuine a bhí i seilbh oifige faoi chomhbhord sa bhforas scortha oifig den tsórt céanna i bhforas sláinte eile faoi bhainistí an chomhbhoird sin nó faoi bhainistí cheann de na húdaráis sláinte a cheap comhaltaí an chomhbhoird sin,
measfar, chun críocha aon achtacháin a bhaineas le haoisliúntais, nár cuireadh deireadh leis an oifig a bhí ag an duine sin sa bhforas scortha.
(2) Má bhíonn oifigeach míshásta le tairiscint faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo féadfaidh sé achomharc i scríbhinn a dhéanamh chun an Aire agus féadfaidh an tAire diúltú don achomharc nó pé treorú a thabhairt is dóigh leis is cóir (agus déanfaidh an t-údarás sláinte nó an comhbhord do réir an treoruithe sin).
Seirbhísí creidimh.
12.—(1) Déanfaidh údarás sláinte comhshocraíochtaí leis na hudaráis chuí chun seirbhísí creidimh a thabhairt go cuí i ngach ospidéal, sanatorium, teaghlach contae, teaghlach do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas coirp nó meabhrach, teaghlach máithreachais, teaghlach eadarshláinte agus urchosclann atá á chothabháil aige.
(2) Ní foláir méid aon íocaíochta a dhéanfas údarás sláinte le duine de bhun an ailt seo a bheith ceadaithe ag an Aire.
Diolúíne ó fhiosrúchán áítlúil.
13.—Ní bheidh gá le fiosrúchán áitiúil i gcás orduithe faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 10 nó faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 11 den Phríomh-Acht más le híclann, clinic, slánlann, stáisiún céad-chabhrach nó aon fhoras den tsórt sin a bhaineas an t-ordú,
CUID III.
Seirbhisi Slainte.
Seirbhísí liachta ginearálta.
14.—(1) Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhís liachta agus máinliachta lia-chleachtóra ghinearálta, íceanna, cóireáil súl-liachta, déadliachta agus cluasliachta, agus fearais liachta, máinliachta agus déadliachta ar fáil in aisce do réir rialachán do na daoine a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo agus dá gcleithiúnaithe.
(2) Na daoine dá dtagartar i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo is daoine iad nach féidir leo an chóireáil liachta nó máinliachta, an chóireáil súl-liachta, déadliachta nó cluasliachta nó na híceanna, nó na fearais liachta, máinliachta nó déadliachta, is gá dóibh féin nó dá gcleithiúnaithe, a sholáthar as a saothar féin ná ar aon mhodh dleathach eile.
Seirbhísí forais agus sainliachta.
15.—(1) Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhísí forais agus sainliachta ar fáil do réir rialachán do na daoine a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo.
(2) Is iad na daoine dá dtagartar i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo na daoine seo a leanas agus a gcleithiúnaithe:
(a) daoine atá árachaithe faoin Acht Leasa Shóisialaigh, 1952 (Uimh. 11 de 1952),
(b) daoine aosaithe ar 1ú ná sé chéad punt a n-acmhainn bhliantúil,
(c) daoine aosaithe arb é tuairim an údaráis sláinte gur as an bhfeirmeoireacht, go hiomlán nó go formhór, a gheibheann siad a n-acmhainn bhliantúil, ach gan luacháil inrátuithe thar caoga punt a bheith ar an bhfeirm nó ar na feirmeacha (lena n-áirítear na foirgintí uirthi nó orthu),
(d) daoine nach sonraítear sna míreanna roimhe seo arb é tuairim an údaráis sláinte nach bhféadfaidís gan cruatan míchuí seirbhísí forais agus sainliachta a sholáthar dóibh féin nó dá gcleithiúnaithe.
(3) Cuirfear seirbhísí forais faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo ar fáil in aisce do na daoine a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) d'alt 14 den Acht seo agus do pé daoine eile dá sonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo a chinnfeas an t-údarás sláinte.
(4) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo, i gcásanna nach mbaineann fo-alt (3) den alt seo leo, gearrfar pé táillí, nach mó ná sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a baintear leas as na seirbhísí forais, a chinnfeas an t-údarás sláinte, ach amháin sna cásanna sin (is cásanna daoine a sonraítear i mír (d) d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo, nó cleithiúnaithe ar na daoine sin) a sonrófar le rialacháin a dhéanfas an tAire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais agus, sna cásanna sin, gearrfar na táillí a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire i leith costas na seirbhísí.
(5) Cuirfear seirbhísí sainliachta faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo ar fáil in aisce.
(6) I mír (b) agus i mír (c) d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo, folaíonn an tagairt d'acmhainn bhliantúil, ní hamháin acmhainn bhliantúil an duine atás i gceist, ach ina teannta sin—
(a) acmhainn bhliantúil chéile an duine sin (má tá ann) má chónaíonn an céile leis an duine sin, agus
(b) acmhainn bhliantúil aon mhic nó iníne neamhphósta
(i) leis an duine sin, nó
(ii) le céile an duine sin (má tá ann), nó
(iii) le haon chéile a bhí ag an duine sin agus d'éag,
má chónaíonn an mac nó an iníon go rialta leis an duine sin.
(7) Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhísí forais agus sainliachta ar fáil in aisce, do réir rialachán, do dhaltaí scoile náisiúnta i leith éalaingí a fionnfar ag scrúduithe sláinte do na scoileanna.
(8) Chun críocha an ailt seo ríomhfar acmhainn bhliantúil do réir Rialach 1 de na Rialacha sa tSeachtú Sceideal a ghabhas leis an Acht Leasa Shóisialaigh, 1952.
(9) Más í breith a tugtar de bhun míre (b) d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo nach lú ná sé chéad punt acmhainn bhliantúil an duine aosaithe, féadfar achomarc i gcoinne na breithe sin a dhéanamh chun duine a cheapfas an tAire, agus féadfar foráil a dhéanamh le rialacháin i dtaobh achomhairc a dhéanamh agus a chinneadh faoin bhfo-alt seo.
(10) Chun críocha an ailt seo ní fholóidh seirbhísí sainliachta seirbhísí súl-liachta ná seirbhísí cluasliachta agus ní seirbhísí forais seirbhísí a tugtar in áit seachas ospidéal, teaghlach eadarshláinte nó teaghlach do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas coirp nó meabhrach.
Aireachas liachta do mháithreacha.
16.—(1) Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhísí liachta, máinliachta, asaoideachta, ospidéil agus sainliachta ar fáil in aisce, do réir rialachán, chun freastal ar shláinte ban (is mná a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo) i leith máithreachta.
(2) Is iad na mná dá dtagartar i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo:
(a) mná atá in aon cheann de na haicmí a luaitear i bhfo-alt (2) d'alt 15 den Acht seo, nó atá ina gcleithiúnaithe ar dhaoine atá sna haicmí sin,
(b) mná a rinne, nó a ndearnadh thar a gceann, pé ranníoca is gá do réir rialachán i leith costas na seirbhísí faoin alt seo.
(3) Na rialacháin dá dtagartar i mír (b) d'fho-alt (2) den alt seo—
(a) forálfaidh siad go mbeidh ranníoca iníoctha do réir na suime iomchuí in aghaidh gach bliana (nach bliain roimh phósadh) a bhfuil ranníoc iníoctha ina leith, agus
(b) féadfaidh siad a cheangal go mbeidh méideanna éagsúla de ranníoca le déanamh in iomthosca éagsúla, ach ní ceanglófar ranníoca (seachas ranníoca reatha) d'íoc roimh ré, agus
(c) forálfaidh siad, faoi réir na bhforál de bhun míre (d) den fho-alt seo, gur punt an tsuim iomchuí dá dtagartar i mír (a) den fho-alt seo, agus
(d) forálfaidh siad gurb í an tsuim iomchuí dá dtagartar i mír (a) den fho-alt seo, do gach tréimshe chúig mblian as a chéile (agus is í an chéad tréimhse díobh sin an tréimhse chúig mblian a thosnós an lá i ndiaidh deireadh trí mblian ó thosach feidhme an ailt seo nó pé lá dá éis sin a gcinnfidh an tAire gurb é an lá is luaithe is féidir é chun an chéad tréimhse díobh sin a thosnú),—
(i) i gcás daoine seachas daoine a raibh ranníoc déanta acu i leith na bliana díreach roimhe an tréimhse sin—
(I) pé suim a gcinnfidh an tAire i leith na tréimhse sin gurb í an tsuim í a bhéarfas go bhfaighfear as ranníoca timpeall leath an mhéid a mheasfas an tAire a chosnós sé na seirbhísí do mhná a dhéanfas ranníoca, nó a ndéanfar ranníoca thar a gceann, do réir an ráta a cinnfear faoin gclásal seo den fho-mhír seo, a sholáthar ar feadh na tréimhse sin, nó
(II) dhá phunt,
pé acu sin is lú, agus
(ii) i gcás daoine a raibh ranníoc déanta acu i leith na bliana díreach roimh an tréimhse sin, an tsuim is iníoctha ag an duine sin don bhliain sin nó an tsuim a chinnfeas an tAire mar adúradh, pé acu sin is lú.
(4) Forálfaidh rialacháin go bhféadfaidh aon bhean atá i dteideal seirbhísí liachta d'fháil faoin alt seo iad d'fháil óna rogha lia-chleachtóir cláraithe ach comhaontú a bheith déanta aige leis an údarás sláinte chun na seirbhísí sin a thabhairt agus é a bheith toilteanach glacadh léi mar othar.
(5) Má bhaineann bean leas as seirbhísí faoin alt seo le haghaidh luí seoil in áit seachas ospidéal nó teaghlach máithreachais, cuirfidh an t-údarás sláinte riachtanais asaoideolaíochta ar fáil in aisce a mhéid a sonrófar le rialacháin.
Seirbhísí leasa naíonán.
17.—(1) Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhísí liachta, máinliachta, ospidéil, sainliachta agus altranais ar fáil in aisce, do réir rialachán, do leanaí suas go dtí sé seachtaine d'aois a bhfuil a máithreacha i dteideal leas a bhaint as na seirbhísí faoi alt 16 den Acht seo.
(2) Forálfaidh rialacháin go mbeidh seirbhísí liachta faoin alt seo ar fáil ag leanbh ó pé lia-chleachtóir cláraithe is rogha le tuismitheoir an linbh, ach comhaontú a bheith déanta aige leis an údarás sláinte chun na seirbhísí sin a thabhairt agus é a bheith toilteanach glacadh leis an leanbh mar othar.
Seirbhísí leasa leanaí.
18.—Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhísí liachta, máinliachta agus altranais do leanaí faoi bhun sé bliana d'aois ar fáil in aisce, do réir rialachán, ag clinicí, slánlanna nó forais dá samhail sin.
Seirbhís scrúduithe agus cóireála sláinte do scoileanna.
19.—(1) Cuirfidh údarás sláinte seirbhís scrúduithe agus cóireála sláinte ar fáil in aisce, do réir rialachán, do na daltaí a dhéanas freastal ar scoileanna lena mbaineann an t-alt seo.
(2) Baineann an t-alt seo le gach scoil is—
(a) scoil náisiúnta, nó
(b) scoil lena mbaineann ordú faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo.
(3) Mura mbíonn údarás sláinte sásta go bhfuil leorsheirbhís scrúduithe shláinte ar fáil do na daltaí a dhéanas freastal ar scoil ina líomatáiste feidhme a thugas bunoideachas agus nach scoil náisiúnta, féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte, le hordú, a threorú go mbainfidh an t-alt seo leis an scoil.
(4) Ní forléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a údaraíos d'údarás sláinte aon tseirbhís ghinearálta teaghais a chur ar fáil ná aon tseirbhísí den tsórt a luaitear in alt 15 nó alt 20 den Acht seo.
Seirbhísí déadliachta, súl-liachta agus cluasliachta do leanaí.
20.—Cuirfidh údarás sláinte cóireáil déadliachta, súl-liachta agus cluasliachta agus fearais déadliachta, súl-liachta agus cluasliachta ar fáil, do réir rialachán—
(a) do dhaltaí scoile náisiúnta i leith éalaingí a fionnfar ag scrúduithe sláinte do scoileanna, agus
(b) do leanaí faoi bhun sé bliana d'aois, atá ag freastal ar chlinicí, slánlanna nó forais dá samhail sin, i leith éalaingí a fionnfar ag na clinicí nó na slánlanna nó na forais sin,
agus cuirfear an chóireáil agus na fearais ar fáil in aisce, ach más amhlaidh a bheas aon fhearas déadliachta, súl-liachta nó cluasliachta á athsholáthar agus nach deimhin leis an údarás sláinte gur gá é d'athsholáthar ar chúis seachas de dheasca faillí, féadfar pé táille a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire d'éileamh i leith an fhearais.
Seirbhísí déadliachta, súl-liachta agus cluasliachta don ghrúpa meánioncaim.
21.—Cuirfidh údarás sláinte cóireáil déadliachta, súl-liachta agus cluasliachta agus fearais déadliachta, sul-liachta agus cluaisliachta ar fáil, do réir rialachán, in aisce nó ar tháillí a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire, do réir mar a sonrófar sna rialacháin, do na daoine (lena n-áirítear cleithiúnaithe) a sonraítear i míreanna (a), (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (2) d'alt 15 den Acht seo (gan na daoine a sonraítear in ailt 14 agus 20 den Acht seo d'áireamh).
Rialacháin i leith seirbhísí.
22.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh, a bhainfeas le gach údarás sláinte, le gach údarás sláinte d'aicme áirithe nó le húdarás sláinte áirithe, i dtaobh an mhodha ar a bhfuil, agus a mhéid atá, na seirbhísí a sonraítear in ailt 14 go 21 den Acht seo le cur ar fáil acu, agus i dtaobh riaradh na seirbhísí sin i gcoitinne.
(2) Is tagairtí do rialacháin faoin alt seo na tagairtí do rialacháin atá in ailt 14 go 21 den Acht seo.
Deontais airgid i leith máithreachais.
23.—(1) Íocfaidh údarás sláinte le bean—
(a) atá i dteideal na seirbhísí a chuireas an t-údarás sláinte ar fáil faoi alt 14 den Acht seo, agus
(b) nach bhfuil beartaithe go mbeadh sí á cothabháil i bhforas tar éis luí seoil (chun críocha seachas cóireáil liachta nó máinliachta) ag an údarás sláinte, agus
(c) a chomhlíonas na coiníollacha ordaithe,
deontas airgid de cheithre puint i leith gach luí seoil.
(2) San alt seo ciallaíonn “luí seoil” íona tuismidh dá dtagann leanbh beo a bhreith, nó íona tuismidh tar éis fiche agus ocht seachtaine toircheasa dá dtagann leanbh, beo nó marbh, a bhreith.
(3) Nuair a bheas an Breitheamh á chinneadh cé acu dhéanfas nó nach ndéanfaidh sé ordú faoi Acht na Leanaí Tabhartha (Orduithe Athairíochta), 1930 (Uimh. 17 de 1930), go n-íocfar na costais a ghabhas le breith linbh, ní chuirfidh sé san áireamh go bhfuil máthair an linbh i dteideal deontais airgid faoin alt seo.
Bainne do mháithreacha agus do leanaí.
24.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, faoi réir na gcoinníollacha ordaithe, socruithe a dhéanamh chun bainne a sholáthar do mhná atá ag iompar clainne agus máithreacha atá ag tál ar chlann i gcás iad a bheith i dteideal na seirbhísí a chuireas an t-údarás sláinte ar fáil faoi alt 14 den Acht seo agus do leanaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo.
(2) San alt seo ciallaíonn “leanaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo” leanaí faoi bhun cúig bliana d'aois nach féidir lena dtuismitheoirí dóthain bainne a sholáthar dóibh as a n-acmhainn féin.
(3) Forléireofar na tagairtí i bhfo-ailt (1) agus (2) den alt seo do bhainne mar thagairtí a fholaíos tagairtí do pé bianna, a déantar go hiomlán nó go formhór as bainne, a cheadós an tAire ó am go h-am.
Seirbhísí forais do réir rogha an othair, etc.
25.—(1) Duine a mbeidh teideal aige, ag féachaint do rialacháin faoi alt 22 den Acht seo, chun leas a bhaint as seirbhísí forais faoi alt 15 nó alt 16 den Acht seo, nó tuismitheoir linbh a mbeidh teideal aige, a féachaint do rialacháin faoi alt 22 den Acht seo, a cheadú don leanbh leas a bhaint as na seirbhísí faoi alt 15 nó alt 17 den Acht seo, féadfaidh sé, más mian leis in ionad glacadh le seirbhísí a chuireas an t-údarás sláinte ar fáil, a shocrú go gcuirfear a gcomhionann de sheirbhísí ar fáil dó féin nó don leanbh (do réir mar bheas)—
(a) in aon ospidéal a cheadós an tAire chun críocha an ailt seo, nó
(b) in aon teaghlach altranais nó máithreachais a cheadós an tAire chun críocha an ailt seo,
agus má shocraíonn duine amhlaidh déanfaidh an t-údarás sláinte, do réir pé rialachán a dhéanfas an tAire, íocaíocht mar foráltar san alt seo i leith na seirbhísí a cuirfear ar fáil.
(2) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, in áit seachas aireagal príobháideach nó leathphríobháideach in aon fhoras (nach foras sláinte) lena mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, beidh an íocaíocht a bheas le déanamh ag an údarás sláinte leis an bhforas i leith na seirbhísí forais comhionann leis an íocaíocht a déanfaí leis an bhforas de bhun na comhshocraíochta sin, lúide suim sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a bainfear leas as na seirbhísí.
(3) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, in áit seachas aireagal príobháideach nó leathphríobháideach in aon fhoras (nach foras sláinte) nach mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte leis faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, beidh an íocaíocht a bheas le déanamh ag an údarás sláinte leis an bhforas i leith na seirbhísí forais comhionann leis an íocaíocht a dhéanas an t-údarás sláinte de ghnáth as seirbhísí den tsórt céanna a chur ar fáil i bhforas (seachas in aireagal príobháideach nó leath-phríobháideach) lena mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, lúide suim sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a bainfear leas as na seirbhísí.
(4) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, in aireagal príobháideach nó leath-phríobháideach in aon fhoras (nach foras sláinte) a mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte leis faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:
(a) beidh an íocaíocht a bheas le déanamh ag an údarás sláinte leis an bhforas i leith na seirbhísí forais comhionann leis an íocaíocht a déanfaí leis an bhforas do réir na comhshocraíochta sin as seirbhísí seachas seirbhísí in aireagail phríobháideacha nó leathphríobháideacha, lúide suim sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a bainfear leas as na seirbhísí,
(b) ní forléireofar aon ní san Acht seo, ná in aon rialacháin a déanfar faoi, mar ní a chuireas tórainn le méid aon táille a fhéadfas an foras a ghearradh ar an duine a bhainfeas leas as na seirbhísí.
(5) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo in aireagal príobháideach nó leath-phríobháideach in aon fhoras (nach foras sláinte) nach mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte leis faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:
(a) beidh an íocaíocht a bheas le déanamh ag an údarás sláinte leis an bhforas i leith na seirbhísí forais comhionann leis an íocaíocht a dhéanas an t-údarás sláinte de ghnáth as seirbhísí den tsórt céanna a chur ar fáil (seachas in aireagal príobháideach nó leathphríobháideach) i bhforas lena mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, lúide suim sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a bainfear leas as na seirbhísí,
(b) ní forléireofar aon ní san Acht seo, ná in aon rialacháin a déanfar faoi, mar ní a chuireas tórainn le méid aon táille a fhéadfas an foras a ghearradh ar an duine a bhainfeas leas as na seirbhísí.
(6) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo i dteaghlach altranais nó i dteaghlach máithreachais, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas:
(a) beidh an íocaíocht a bheas le déanamh ag an údarás sláinte leis an teaghlach i leith na seirbhísí forais comhionann leis an íocaíocht a dhéanfas an t-údarás sláinte de ghnáth as seirbhísí den tsórt céanna a chur ar fáil (seachas in aireagal príobháideach nó leathphríobháideach) in ospidéal lena mbeidh comhshocraíocht déanta ag an údarás sláinte faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, lúide suim sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a bainfear leas as na seirbhísí, agus, mura gcinneann an t-údarás sláinte a mhalairt, ní mó ná sé seachtaine i gcás teaghlaigh altranais, nó coicíos i gcás teaghlaigh mháithreachais, an tréimhse a ndéanfar íocaíocht ina leith,
(b) ní forléireofar aon ní san Acht seo, ná in aon rialacháin a déanfar faoi, mar ní a chuireas tórainn le méid aon táille a fhéadfas an foras a ghearradh ar an duine a bhainfeas leas as na seirbhísí.
(7) Nuair a cuirfear seirbhísí forais ar fáil faoi alt 15, alt 16 nó alt 17 den Acht seo in aireagal príobháideach nó leath-phríobháideach i bhforas sláinte, ar sin dá iarraidh ag an othar nó thar ceann an othair, gearrfar ina leith, i dteannta aon táille faoi fho-alt (4) d'alt 15 den Acht seo, suim is ionann agus an difríocht idir—
(a) an táille a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire faoi alt 26 den Acht seo i leith na seirbhísí sin in aireagal príobháideach nó leath-phríobháideach (pé acu é) sa bhforas sin, agus
(b) an táille a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire faoi alt 26 den Acht seo i leith na seirbhísí sin sa bhforas sin seachas in aireagal príobháideach nó leath-phríobháideach.
Seirbhísí forais do dhaoine nach bhfuil i dteideal seirbhísí faoi alt 15.
26.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte seirbhísí forais a chur ar fáil do na daoine nach mbeidh i dteideal seirbhísí faoi alt 15 den Acht seo agus gearrfaidh siad i leith aon tseirbhísí forais a cuirfear ar fáil amhlaidh pé táillí a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire.
(2) Ach amháin i gcásanna lena ngabhann práinn agus riachtanas, ní cuirfear seirbhísí forais (seachas seirbhísí forais i gcóiríocht speisialta a ainmneaos an t-údarás sláinte le toiliú an Aire) ar fáil faoin alt seo do dhuine mura mbeidh cóiríocht ar fáil nach bhfuil ag teastáil, an tráth a ligfear an duine sin isteach, do dhuine atá i dteideal seirbhísí faoi alt 15 den Acht seo.
(3) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le toiliú an Aire, rialacha a dhéanamh i dtaobh seirbhísí forais a sholáthar faoin alt seo, agus go sonrach, féadfaidh forála a bheith sna rialacha sin i dtaobh íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh agus méid na n-íocaíochtaí a déanfar le hoifigigh don údarás sláinte i leith aon tseirbhíse nó cóireála a thabharfaid do dhaoine a bhainfeas leas as na seirbhísí forais.
(4) Ní éileoidh ná ní thógfaidh oifigeach d'údarás sláinte a chuirfeas seirbhísí forais ar fáil aon íocaíocht ó aon duine a bhainfeas leas as na seirbhísí sin (ná ó aon duine eile thar ceann an duine sin) i leith na seirbhísí a thabhairt don duine sin, murab íocaíocht í a héilítear nó a tógtar thar ceann an údaráis sláinte, ach amháin i gcás tógaint na híocaíochta ag an oifigeach a bheith údaraithe go sainráiteach le rialacha faoin alt seo nó le téarmaí a cheapacháin.
(5) Measfar gur rialacha faoin alt seo rialacháin a rinneadh faoi alt 37 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, agus a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo.
(6) Ní dhéanfaidh aon ní san alt seo difir d'oibriú ailt 14 ná alt 16 go 21 den Acht seo ná ailt 31 den Phríomh-Acht ná d'oibriú aon rialachán faoin alt sin.
Dearbhú i dtaobh acmhainne.
27.—Chun a chinneadh cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil duine i dteideal aon tseirbhíse dá gcuirfidh údarás sláinte ar fáil faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte a cheangal ar an duine sin dearbhú a dhéanamh, i pé foirm is cuí leis an údarás sláinte, i dtaobh a acmhainne agus féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte pé bearta is cuí leis a dhéanamh chun an dearbhú d'fhíoradh.
Athrú ar imthosca a chur in iúl.
28.—(1) Má dhéanann údarás sláinte duine d'áireamh, chun críocha an ailt seo, mar dhuine atá, mar gheall ar imthosca sonraithe, i dteideal seirbhíse a bheas á cur ar fáil ag an údarás sláinte faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, cuirfidh sé in iúl don údarás sláinte aon athrú ar na himthosca sin d'fhágfadh nach mbeadh sé feasta i dteideal na seirbhíse sin.
(2) Má sháraíonn duine fo-alt (1) den alt seo go feasach, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air.
Réiteach amhrais i dtaobh cén t-údarás sláinte atá freagrach i seirbhís a thabhairt.
29.—Is é an tAire a chinnfeas, in aon chás amhrais nó díospóide maidir le duine áirithe nó le daoine d'aicme áirithe, cén t-údarás sláinte a bheas freagrach in aon tseirbhís faoin bPríomh-Acht nó faoin Acht seo a chur ar fáil don duine sin nó do dhaoine den aicme sin (más iomchuí).
Táille má gheibheann duine seirbhís gan teideal a bheith aige chuici.
30.—Más rud é—
(a) go mbainfidh duine leas as seirbhís a cuirfear ar fáil faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, agus
(b) go bhfionnfar nach raibh sé i dteideal na seirbhíse,
féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte pé táille a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire a ghearradh i leith na seirbhíse.
Gnóthú táillí.
31.—Aon táille a ghearrfas údarás sláinte de bhun na Coda seo den Acht seo nó na rialachán fúithi, féadfar, mura n-íoctar í, í a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla—
(a) ón duine a ngearrfar an táille ina leith nó, má tá seisean tar éis bháis, óna ionadaí pearsanta dlíthiúil, nó
(b) ó aon duine eile a dhlíos an duine sin a chothabháil chun críocha an Achta um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, de bhuaidh ailt 27 den Acht sin nó, má tá an duine eile sin tar éis bháis, óna ionadaí pearsanta dlíthiúil.
Saoráidí a thabhairt le haghaidh scrúdú sláinte ar leanaí i scoileanna.
32.—(1) Aon údarás sláinte a bheartós socrú a dhéanamh le haghaidh scrúdú sláinte ar leanaí i scoil, faoin Acht seo, féadfaidh sé fógra scríofa faoin mbeartú sin a thabhairt do scoil-bhainisteoir na scoile, ina luafaidh an lá nó na laethe (nach luaithe ná seacht lá tar éis an fógra a thabhairt) a déanfar an scrúdú, agus an t-am a déanfar é, agus ina n-iarrfaidh ar an scoil-bhainisteoir gach saoráid réasúnach a chur ar fáil don scrúdú.
(2) Féadfar fógra faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo a sheoladh chuig “an scoil-bhainisteoir” agus é a thabhairt trína sheachadadh do scoil-bhainisteoir na scoile lena mbaineann nó trína chur leis an bpost chuig an seoladh mar a mbíonn cónaí air de ghnáth.
(3) Déanfar cóip de gach fógra faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo i leith scrúduithe shláinte atá le déanamh i scoil nach é a príomh-mhúinteoir is scoil-bhainisteoir uirthi a sheachadadh do phríomh-mhúinteoir na scoile sin, nó a chur leis an bpost chuig an múinteoir sin ag an scoil.
(4) Cuirfidh scoil-bhainisteoir scoile lena mbainfidh fógra a bhéarfar faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo faoi deara gach saoráid réasúnach a thabhairt chun scrúdú sláinte a dhéanamh do réir an fhógra agus ar an lá nó na laethe agus ag an am a luaifear sa bhfógra, agus mura ndéanfaidh sé amhlaidh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná deich bpuint a chur air.
(5) Gan dochar do na fo-ailt sin roimhe seo den alt seo, raghaidh údarás sláinte i gcomhairle le scoil-bhainisteoir scoile sara gcinnfidh an t-údarás sláinte an lá nó na laethe agus an t-am a déanfar scrúdú sláinte ar leanaí sa scoil agus, chomh fada agus is féidir sin, déanfaidh sé do réir mar is mian leis an scoil-bhainisteoir.
(6) Féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte a thabharfas an fógra iomchuí faoin alt seo inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith ciona faoin alt seo.
Ráitis bhréagacha, etc.
33.—Má dhéanann duine ar bith, chun go bhfaighidh sé aon tseirbhís a cuirfear ar fáil faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo, pé acu dó féin nó do dhuine éigin eile é, nó chun aon chríche eile a bhaineas leis an gCuid seo den Acht seo—
(a) aon ráiteas bréagach nó aon uiríoll bréagach a thabhairt go feasach nó aon fhíoras ábhartha a cheilt go feasach, nó
(b) aon doiciméad nó eolas is eol dó a bheith bréagach i bponc ábhartha a thabhairt ar aird nó a sholáthar, nó a chur faoi deara nó a cheadú go feasach sin a thabhairt ar aird nó a sholáthar,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná caoga punt a chur air nó, de rogha na Cúirte, príosúntacht ar feadh aon téarma nach sia ná trí mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúntacht sin le chéile.
CUID IV.
Leasuithe Ilghneitheacha ar an bPriomh-Acht.
Leasú ar alt 31 den Phríomh-Acht.
34.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 31 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur leis:
“(10) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo a cheangal, go sonrach, go ndéanfar gearradh na bolgaí ar dhaoine a bhíos ag gabháil d'obair in aerphoirt nó calafoirt nó umpu, agus—
(a) ní bheidh feidhm maidir leis na rialacháin sin ag an oblagáid chun an socrú dá dtagartar i mír (b) d'fho-alt (7) den alt seo a chur iontu, agus
(b) ní bheidh feidhm ag alt 32 den Acht seo maidir leis an ngearradh bolgaí sin.”
Leasú ar alt 38 den Phríomh-Acht.
35.—Ní bheidh aon éifeacht ag ordú a déanfar tar éis tosach feidhme an ailt seo faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 38 den Phríomh-Acht mura mbíonn sé, i dteannta a bheith faoi shíníú an phríomhdhochtúra oifigiúil, sínithe freisin ag lia-chleachtóir cláraithe eile.
Leasú ar alt 44 den Phríomh-Acht.
36.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 44 den Phríomh-Acht trí na focail “nó galar a mbeidh amhras ar phríomh-dhochtúir oifigiúil an údaráis sláinte a gcónaíonn an duine sin de ghnáth ina líomatáiste feidhme gur galar aicídeach é” a chur isteach i ndiaidh “galar aicídeach air” i mír (a) d'fho-alt (1).
(2) Forléireofar alt 44 den Phríomh-Acht mar ní a údaraíos íocaíocht a dhéanamh i leith cúnaimh tís má bhíonn bean phósta faoi chóireáil, in aghaidh galair aicídigh, chun sástachta phríomhdhochtúra oifigiúil an údaráis sláinte a gcónaíonn sí de ghnáth ina líomatáiste feidhme, agus mura féidir lena fear céile soláthar cuí réasúnach a dhéanamh chun aire a thabhairt don chlann.
(3) Beidh feidhm ag ailt 28 agus 33 den Acht seo maidir leis an seirbhís a cuirtear ar fáil faoi alt 44 den Phríomh-Acht amhail mar atá feidhm acu maidir leis na seirbhísí a cuirfear ar fáil faoi Chuid III den Acht seo.
Leasú ar alt 48 den Phríomh-Acht.
37.—Leasaítear leis seo fo-alt (1) d'alt 48 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí na focail “dochtúir oifigiúil sláinte” a chur in ionad na bhfocal “dochtúir oifigiúil ceantair” sa dá áit ina bhfuil na focail deiridh sin, agus
(b) trí na focail “sa líomatáiste nó sa cheantar dá ngníomhaíonn sé” a chur in ionad na bhfocal “ina cheantar”.
Rialacháin faoi Chuid V den Phríomh-Acht.
38.—(1) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoi Chuid V den Phríomh-Acht foráil a dhéanamh i dtaobh gach ceann nó aon cheann de na nithe seo a leanas:
(a) ceadúnú nó clárú—
(i) daoine ag a mbíonn bia don duine á mhonarú, á ullmhú, á allmhuiriú, á stóráil, á imdháil nó á dhíol,
(ii) áitribh, feithiclí nó stallaí ina mbíonn, nó ag a mbíonn, bia don duine á mhonarú, á ullmhú, á stóráil, á imdháil nó á thaispeáint chun a dhíolta,
(b) tuairisc na n-áitreabh, na bhfeithiclí nó na stallaí a ceadúnófar nó a clárófar amhlaidh,
(c) toirmeasc ar bhia a mhonarú, d'ullmhú, d'allmhuiriú, a stóráil, d'imdháil, a thaispeáint chun a dhíolta nó a dhíol ach amháin ag daoine ceadúnaithe nó cláraithe, nó in, nó ag, áitribh, feithiclí nó stallaí ceadúnaithe nó cláraithe (do réir mar bheas),
(d) ceadúnas nó clárú a chealú nó d'fhionraí,
(e) nithe a ghabhas leis na nithe sin roimhe seo.
(2) Má bhíonn, de bhuaidh fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, foráil i rialacháin faoi Chuid V den Phríomh-Acht go gcoimeádfaidh údaráis sláinte cláir—
(a) measfar aon chlár a choimeádfas údarás sláinte, de bhun na rialachán, a bheith i gcoimeád cuí má tá sé i gcoimeád oifigigh don údarás sláinte d'údaraigh an t-údarás sláinte chuige sin agus beidh sé inghlactha mar fhianaise gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais ar é a thabhairt ar aird as an gcoimeád cuí,
(b) féadfar fianaise prima facie ar aon taifead in aon chlár a choimeádas údarás sláinte de bhun na rialachán a thabhairt in aon chúirt nó in aon imeachta dlíthiúla trí chóip den taifead sin a thabhairt ar aird, a airbheartós a bheith deimhnithe mar chóip dhílis ag oifigeach don údarás sláinte a húdaraíodh chuige sin, agus ní gá síniú an oifigigh sin a chruthú ná a chruthú gurbh é an t-oifigeach sin é iarbhír ná gur húdaraíodh amhlaidh é,
(c) déanfar deimhniú a airbheartós a bheith faoi láimh oifigigh d'údarás sláinte a húdaraíodh chuige sin, á dheimhniú nach raibh duine, áitreabh, feithicil nó stalla sonraithe cláraithe i rith tréimhse sonraithe i gclár sonraithe a bhí á choimeád ag an údarás sláinte de bhun na rialachán, a ghlacadh in aon chúirt nó in aon imeachta dlíthiúla mar fhianaise prima facie ar na fíorais a bheas deimhnithe amhlaidh, agus ní gá síniú an oifigigh sin a chruthú ná a chruthú gurbh é an t-oifigeach sin é iarbhír ná gur húdaraíodh amhlaidh é.
(3) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoi Chuid V den Phríomh-Acht a fhoráil go ndéanfaidh Breithimh den Chúirt Dúiche nó Feadhmannaigh Síochána feidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh chun críocha na rialachán atá ina bhfeidhmeanna a bhaineas le haon ní acu seo a leanas:
(a) déanamh orduithe maidir le bia atá galraithe, truaillithe nó neamhoiriúnach ar shlí eile mar bhia don duine, a dhíthiú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile,
(b) athbreithniú orduithe a thoirmisceas earraí bídh nó ainmhithe nó ábhair a beartaítear d'úsáid i monarú bídh d'allmhuiriú nó a thógaint ó áit a n-allmhuirithe,
(c) neamhniú nó daingniú orduithe a bhaineas le ceadúnas nó clárú a chealú nó d'fhionraí, nó a bhaineas le húsáid áitreabh, stallaí nó feithiclí chun aon chríche sonraithe a thoirmeasc,
(d) treorú a thabhairt d'údaráis sláinte daoine, áitribh, feithiclí nó stallaí a cheadúnú nó a chlárú in imthosca sonraithe.
(4) Má cheanglann aon údarás, a chuireas rialacháin i bhfeidhm faoi Chuid V den Phríomh-Acht, aon deisiúchán, athrú déanmhais nó méadú a dhéanamh ar áitreabh chun go gcomhlíonfar na rialacháin sin—
(a) féadfar an deisiúchán, an t-athrú déanmhais nó an méadú a dhéanamh d'ainneoin aon chúnaint, comhaontuithe nó coinníll in aon léas nó conradh eile tionóntachta faoina bhfuil an t-áitreabh á theachtadh,
(b) sara ndéanfar an deisiúchán, an t-athrú déanmhais nó an méadú, ní foláir don duine ar ceanglaíodh air sin a dhéanamh—
(i) murab é áititheoir rátaithe an áitribh é, an scéal a chur in iúl don áiththeoir rátaithe, agus
(ii) má tá an t-áitreabh á theachtadh aige faoi léas nó conradh eile tionóntachta, an scéal a chur in iúl don neas-tiarna talún nó dá ghníomhaire.
(5) In ailt 56 agus 57 den Phríomh-Acht forléireofar an focal “bia” mar thagairt d'aon chineál bídh chomh maith le tagairt d'aon bhia faoi leith.
(6) Measfar an t-alt seo agus an athghairm a déantar le halt 5 den Acht seo ar alt 55 den Phríomh-Acht a theacht i ngníomh an lá a tháinig Cuid V den Phríomh-Acht i ngníomh.
Leasú ar alt 65 den Phríomh-Acht.
39.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 65 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) tríd an míniú ar an bhfocal “substaint” i bhfo-alt (1) a scrios agus an míniú seo a leanas a chur ina ionad:
“ciallaíonn an focal ‘substaint’ substaint aiceanta nó shaorga, pé acu i bhfoirm sholadach nó lachtach nó i bhfoirm gháis nó ghaile dhi, lena n-áirítear ullmhóid nó earra mhonaraithe nó earra a cuireadh faoi aon chóireáil nó próis shaorga;”
(b) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur i ndeireadh fo-ailt (3)—
“(j) chun na rialacháin d'fhorfheidhmiú agus d'fhorghníomhú—
(i) ag oifigigh don Aire,
(ii) ag údaráis sláinte agus a n-oifigigh,
(iii) ag oifigigh Chustam agus Máil, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais,
(iv) ag oifigigh don Aire Tionscal agus Tráchtála, le toiliú an Aire sin.”
(c) trí na focail “nó an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh an cion” a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (5) roimh an bhfocal “inchúiseamh”.
Leasú ar alt 66 den Phríomh-Acht.
40.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 66 den Phríomh-Acht trí na focail “nó an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh an cion” a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (9) roimh an bhfocal “inchúiseamh”.
Leasú ar alt 98 den Phríomh-Acht.
41.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 98 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí na focail “chun comhairle a thabhairt don Aire, ar é dá iarraidh sin orthu, i dtaobh nithe a bhaineas nó a ghabhas le sláinte an phobail” a scrios as fo-alt (1) agus na focail seo a leanas a chur ina n-ionad, “chun comhairle a thabhairt don Aire i dtaobh pé nithe ginearálta, a bhaineas nó a ghabhas le sláinte an phobail, a chuirfeas an tAire ina gcomhairle, agus i dtaobh pé nithe ginearálta eile (seachas coinníollacha fostaíochta oifigeach agus seirbhíseach agus méid nó íoc deontas nó liúntas) is cuí leo maidir le hoibriú na seirbhísí sláinte”;
(b) trí na focail “na Comhairle Sláinte Náisiúnta agus” a scrios as fo-alt (4);
(c) trí na fo-ailt bhreise seo a leanas a chur leis an alt sin:—
“(7) Déanfaidh an tAire a leath ar a laghad de na daoine a ceapfar le bheith ina gcomhaltaí den Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta a cheapadh ar ainmniú comhluchtaí atá, dar leis an Aire, ionadaitheach do ghairm na míochaine agus dá fo-gharma (lena n-áirítear brainsí faoi leith díobh) agus daoine a bhfuil baint acu le bainistí ospidéal saorálacha.
(8) Na comhaltaí den Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta a bheas i seilbh oifige ar an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1954, raghaidh siad as oifig ag deireadh an lae sin agus beidh feidhm ag an bhforáil chéanna maidir leis an 31ú lá de Mhárta sa bhliain 1956 agus i ngach dara bliain dá éis sin.
(9) Ceapfaidh an Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta duine dá gcomhaltaí chun gníomhú mar chathaoirleach ar an gComhairle.
(10) Is é is córam do chruinniú den Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta trian de na comhaltaí nó, mura féidir uimhir na gcomhaltaí a roinnt ar a trí, trian den chéad uimhir eile os a cionn sin atá inroinnte ar a trí.
(11) Féadfaidh an Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta, trí bhuan-orduithe nó ar shlí eile, a nós imeachta féin a rialú.
(12) Tiocfaidh an Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta le chéile uair amháin ar a laghad i ngach ráithe den bhliain.
(13) Tiocfaidh an Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta le chéile—
(i) pé trátha a iarrfas an tAire orthu teacht le chéile,
(ii) faoi réir fo-ailt (14) den alt seo, pé trátha a chinnfeas an Chomhairle, agus
(iii) faoi réir fo-ailt (14) den alt seo, ar fhoréileamh chun cruinniú den Chomhairle a ghairm, arna shíniú ag uimhir de chomhaltaí nach lú ná córam na Comhairle, a thíolacadh do rúnaí na Comhairle.
(14) Má bítear tar éis trí chruinniú nó níos mó den Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta a thionól in aon ráithe, ní tionólfar aon chruinniú eile sa ráithe sin ach amháin ar iarratas, nó le toiliú, an Aire.
(15) Is cruinniú príobháideach gach cruinniú den Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta.
(16) Féadfaidh an Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta tuarascáil bhliantúil a thíolacadh don Aire gach bliain agus foilseoidh an tAire an tuarascáil maraon le pé tuairimí (más ann) is oiriúnach leis.
(17) Iarrfaidh an tAire comhairle ar an gComhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta faoi aon rialacháin a bheartós sé a dhéanamh faoi na hAchta Sláinte, 1947 agus 1953, nó faoin Acht Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945, ach amháin más deimhin leis go bhfuil práinn le déanamh na rialachán agus, sa chás sin, iarrfaidh sé comhairle ar an gComhairle faoi na rialacháin a luaithe is féidir tar éis a ndéanta.
(18) Ceapfaidh an tAire duine chun gníomhú mar rúnaí don Chomhairle Shláinte Náisiúnta.”
Leasú ar alt 103 den Phríomh-Acht.
42.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 103 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “an Aire” a chur in ionad “an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil” i bhfo-alt (1), agus
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur leis an alt:
“(4) Ní raghaidh an tsuim a bheas ar iasacht aon am áirithe ag údarás sláinte faoin alt seo thar pé suim a bheas socraithe i leith an ama sin don údarás sláinte sin le hordú arna dhéanamh ag an Aire le toiliú an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil.”
Leasú ar alt 104 den Phríomh-Acht.
43.—Leasaítear leis seo fo-alt (2) d'alt 104 den Phríomh-Acht trí “nó cóir eile iompair” a chur isteach roimh “a soláthrófar”.
Inchúiseamh i leith cionta áirithe.
44.—Féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh an cion inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith ciona faoi Chuid V, Cuid VIII nó Cuid IX den Phríomh-Acht.
CUID V.
Ilghneitheach.
Údaráis sláinte do ghníomhú i gcomhar.
45.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, socrú a dhéanamh agus údarás a thabhairt chun dhá údarás sláinte nó níos mó do ghníomhú i gcomhar ag comhlíonadh aon cheann dá bhfeidhmeanna, maidir le hiomlán a líomatáiste feidhme nó maidir le cuid de.
(2) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh i dtaobh an mhodha a nglanfar na costais faoina raghfar ag gníomhú i gcomhar amhlaidh.
(3) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh chun comhbhord a bhunú chun críocha an orduithe.
(4) Beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le comhbhord a bunófar le hordú faoin alt seo:
(a) beidh an bord ina chomhlucht corpraithe le síorchomharbas faoin ainm a bhéarfar dó leis an ordú,
(b) féadfaidh an bord agra a dhéanamh agus féadfar agra a dhéanamh air faoina ainm corpraithe,
(c) beidh cumhacht ag an mbord talamh a shealbhú agus a dhiúscairt,
(d) soláthróidh an bord agus beidh aige gnáth-shéala agus déanfar an séala sin a dhílse-dheimhniú le síniú an chathaoirligh nó comhalta éigin eile ag a bhfuil údarás gníomhú chuige sin agus le síniú oifigigh don bhord ag a bhfuil údarás gníomhú chuige sin,
(e) bhéarfaidh gach cúirt bhreithiúnais aird bhreithiúnach ar shéala an bhoird, agus déanfar gach doiciméad a airbheartós a bheith ina ordú nó ina ionstraim eile a rinne an bord agus a bheith séalaithe lena shéala (a airbheartós a bheith arna dhílse-dheimhniú do réir na míre sin roimhe seo) a ghlacadh i bhfianaise agus measfar gurb é an t-ordú nó an ionstraim sin é gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais, mura gcruthaítear a mhalairt,
(f) beidh an bord ina chomh-chomhlucht do réir bhrí agus chun críocha na nAcht um Bainistí Chontae, 1940 agus 1942,
(g) beidh an bord ina chomhúdarás do réir bhrí agus chun críocha an Achta Sheirbhísí Sláinte (Forála Airgeadais), 1947 (Uimh. 47 de 1947),
(h) féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, feidhm a thabhairt maidir leis an mbord d'aon fhorála den Phríomh-Acht nó den Acht seo nó d'aon rialacháin fúthu agus féadfaidh feidhm a thabhairt amhlaidh do na forála sin le haon mhodhnuithe nó tóranna sonraithe.
(5) Féadfaidh ordú faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh chun Bord Cúnaimh Bhaile Atha Cliath, an Bord Cúnaimh Phoiblí do Cheantar Cúnaimh Phoiblí Chorcaighe Theas nó an Bord Cúnaimh Phoiblí do Cheantar Cúnaimh Phoiblí Phortláirge do ghníomhú i gcomhar, agus chuige sin féadfaidh feidhm a thabhairt maidir leis an mbord sin d'aon fhorála den Phríomh-Acht nó den Acht seo nó d'aon rialacháin fúthu agus féadfaidh feidhm a thabhairt amhlaidh do na forála sin le haon mhodhnuithe nó tóranna sonraithe.
(6) Ní déanfar ordú faoin alt seo ag tabhairt feidhme maidir le bord d'fhorála ailt 103 den Phríomh-Acht ach amháin le toiliú an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil.
(7) I gcás feidhm maidir le bord a bheith ag forála ailt 103 den Phríomh-Acht, de bhuaidh orduithe faoin alt seo, ní raghaidh an tsuim a bheas aon tráth áirithe ar iasacht ag an mbord faoin bPríomh-Acht thar an gceathrú cuid de mhéid iomlán na luachál sna liostaí luachála a bheas i bhfeidhm an tráth sin faoi na hAchta Luachála i líomatáistí feidhme na n-údarás sláinte a dhlíos ranníoc a dhéanamh i leith caiteachas an bhoird.
(8) I gcás ordú a rinneadh faoi alt 101 (a hathghairmtear leis an Acht seo) den Phríomh-Acht, agus a rinne foráil le haghaidh coiste chun gníomhú thar ceann dhá údarás sláinte nó níos mó, a bheith i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo—
(a) leanfaidh an t-ordú i bhfeidhm agus measfar gur faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo a rinneadh é,
(b) measfar an coiste a bheith ina chomhbhord a bunaíodh le hordú faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo faoi pé ainm a sonrófar le hordú eile ón Aire.
(9) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, aon ordú a rinneadh nó a measfar a rinneadh faoin alt seo a chúlghairm agus beidh san ordú cúlghairme pé forála is riachtanach nó is fóirstineach leis an Aire de dhroim na cúlghairme agus, go háirithe, más le comhbhord a bhaineas an t-ordú atá le cúlghairm, féadfar foráil a dhéanamh ann—
(a) chun an comhbhord a dhíscaoileadh agus a mhaoin, a chearta agus a dhliteanais d'aistriú chun údaráis sláinte nó chun dhá údarás sláinte nó níos mó nó chun comhbhord eile nó chun dhá chomhbord eile nó níos mó,
(b) chun conartha leanúnacha a rinne an comhbhord díscaoilte a choimeád ar marthain,
(c) chun leanúint d'imeachta dlíthiúla atá ar feitheamh,
(d) chun sealbhóir aon oifige faoin gcomhbhord díscaoilte d'aistriú chun a shamhail d'oifig faoi cheann de na húdaráis sláinte a cheap comhaltaí an chomhbhoird dhíscaoilte nó faoi chomhbhord eile a bhfuil a líomatáiste feidhme comhthórannach le líomatáiste feidhme an chomhbhoird dhíscaoilte nó a bhfuil líomatáiste feidhme an chomhbhoird dhíscaoilte ann nó atá ina chuid de líomatáiste feidhme an chomhbhoird dhíscaoilte.
(10) Má déantar, faoi ordú faoi fho-alt (9) den alt seo, sealbhóir oifige faoi chomhbhord d'aistriú chun oifige eile, measfar, chun críche aon achtacháin a bhaineas le haoisliúntas, nár cuireadh deireadh leis an oifig chéadluaite.
Boird Chúnaimh Bhaile an Ridire agus Rátha Dúin.
46.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, a údarú do Bhord Cúnaimh Bhaile an Ridire nó do Bhord Cúnaimh Rátha Dúin aon fheidhmeanna de chuid chomhairle chontae Bhaile Atha Cliath faoin bPríomh-Acht nó faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, agus chuige sin féadfaidh feidhm maidir leis an mbord sin a thabhairt d'aon fhorála den Phríomh-Acht nó den Acht seo nó d'aon rialacháin fúthu agus féadfaidh feidhm a thabhairt amhlaidh do na forála sin le haon mhodhnuithe nó tóranna sonraithe.
(2) Ní déanfar ordú faoin alt seo ag tabhairt feidhme maidir le bord d'fhorála ailt 103 den Phríomh-Acht ach amháin le toiliú an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil.
(3) I gcás feidhm maidir le bord a bheith ag forála ailt 103 den Phríomh-Acht, de bhuaidh orduithe faoin alt seo, ní raghaidh an tsuim a bheas aon tráth áirithe ar iasacht ag an mbord faoin bPríomh-Acht thar an gceathrú cuid de mhéid iomlán na luachál sna liostaí luachála a bheas i bhfeidhm an tráth sin faoi na hAchta Luachála i líomatáiste feidhme an bhoird.
Comhshocríochtaí idir údaráis sláinte agus údaráis eile.
47.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte agus údarás sláintíochta uirbeach, le toiliú an Aire agus an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil, comhshochraíocht a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích chun go soláthróidh an t-údarás sláintíochta uirbeach aon tseirbhís a cuirtear ar chumas an údaráis sláinte leis an bPríomh-Acht nó leis an Acht seo a sholáthar.
(2) Má dhéanann údarás sláinte agus údarás sláintíochta uirbeach comhshocraíocht faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire, trí ordú, le toiliú an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil, feidhm a thabhairt maidir leis an údarás sláintíochta uirbeach d'aon fhorála den Phríomh-Acht nó den Acht seo nó d'aon rialacháin fúthu a mheasfas sé a bheith riachtanach agus féadfaidh feidhm a thabhairt amhlaidh do na forála sin le haon mhodhnuithe nó tóranna sonraithe.
(3) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte agus údarás sláinte eile comhshocraíocht a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích chun údarás amháin díobh do chomhlíonadh aon fheidhmeanna de chuid an údaráis eile.
(4) Féadfaidh forála a bheith in aon chomhshocraíocht faoin alt seo i dtaobh caiteachais d'aisíoc a raghaidh údarás fúthu ag cur na comhshocraíochta i gcrích.
Coistí comhairlitheacha sláinte.
48.—(1) Déanfaidh comhairle chontae (seachas Baile Átha Cliath, Corcaigh, nó Portláirge), le rún, coiste comhairlitheach sláinte a cheapadh chun comhairle a thabhairt don bhainisteoir contae ar chúrsaí ginearálta (seachas coinníollacha fostaíochta oifigeach agus seirbhíseach, méid nó íoc deontas nó liúntas, nó aon tseirbhís a chur ar fáil do dhuine áirithe) a bhaineas le comhlíonadh feidhmeanna na comhairle maidir le hoibriú an Phríomh-Achta nó an Achta seo.
(2) Déanfaidh comhairle chontae ceapachán faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo a lúaithe is caothúil—
(a) tar éis tosach feidhme an ailt seo, agus
(b) tar éis gach toghcháin do chomhaltaí na comhairle.
(3) Deichniúr comhaltaí a bheas ar choiste comhairlitheach sláinte, agus orthu sin beidh—
(a) ceathrar comhaltaí ar a laghad de chomhairle na contae,
(b) an dochtúir oifigiúil contae don chontae,
(c) an máinlia contae don chontae nó, mura bhfuil aon oifigeach den tsórt sin ann, dochtúir oifigiúil sinsir i bhforas sláinte atá á chothabháil ag comhairle na contae,
(d) beirt lia-cleachtóirí cláraithe eile a chónaíos sa chontae, a mbeidh gach duine acu ainmnithe ag comhlucht is dóigh le comhairle na contae a bheith ionadaitheach do lia-chleachtóirí cláraithe atá ag cleachtadh sa chontae.
(4) Tiocfaidh coiste comhairlitheach sláinte le chéile—
(a) nuair a iarrfas comhairle na contae le rún nó an bainisteoir contae orthu teacht le chéile,
(b) faoi réir fo-ailt (5) den alt seo, pé trátha eile a chinnfeas an coiste, agus
(c) faoi réir fo-ailt (5) den alt seo, ar fhoréileamh chun cruinniú den choiste a ghairm, arna shíniú ag ceathrar comhaltaí ar a laghad den choiste, a thíolacadh don bhainisteoir contae.
(5) Má bítear tar éis cruinniú den choiste comhairlitheach sláinte a thionól in aon mhí ní tionólfar aon chruinniú eile dhe an mhí sin ach amháin ar iarratas, trí rún, ó chomhairle na contae nó ar iarratas nó le toiliú an bhainisteora chontae.
(6) Is cruinniú príobháideach gach cruinniú de choiste comhairlitheach sláinte.
(7) Bainfidh na fo-ailt sin roimhe seo den alt seo le Comhairle Chathrach Luimnigh amhail is dá mba chomhairle chontae í, leis na modhnuithe seo a leanas:—
(a) forléireofar mar thagairt do Bhainisteoir Cathrach Luimnigh aon tagairt don bhainisteoir contae,
(b) forléireofar mar thagairt do Dhochtúir Oifigiúil Cathrach Luimnigh an tagairt atá i mír (b) d'fho-alt (3) don dochtúir oifigiúil contae.
(8) Déanfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, socrú chun coiste comhairlitheach sláinte a bhunú do gach ceann de na líomatáistí seo a leanas:—
(a) contae-bhuirg Bhaile Átha Cliath agus contae Bhaile Átha Cliath,
(b) contae-bhuirg Chorcaighe agus contae Chorcaighe, agus
(c) contae-bhuirg Phortláirge agus contae Phortláirge,
agus déanfaidh aon rialacháin den tsórt sin foráil chun feidhm a thabhairt maidir leis an gcoiste d'fhorála fo-alt (4), (5) agus (6) den alt seo, le haon mhodhnuithe is oiriúnach leis an Aire.
Comhaontú chun seirbhís a chur ar fáil.
49.—Nuair a bheas comhaontú á dhéanamh ag údarás sláinte le haon duine chun an duine sin do chur aon tseirbhíse ar fáil a húdaraítear don údarás sláinte a chur ar fáil, déanfaidh sé do réir aon cheanglas a shonrós an tAire.
Daoine míchumasaithe d'athinmhiú agus a chothabháil.
50.—(1) Déanfaidh údarás sláinte, do réir rialachán faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, seirbhís a chur ar fáil—
(a) chun daoine míchumasaithe d'oiliúint i gcóir fostaíochta atá oiriúnach do staid a sláinte, agus
(b) chun comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh le fostóirí d'fhonn daoine míchumasaithe a chur i bhfostaíocht oiriúnach,
agus chun críocha na hoiliúna réamhráite féadfaidh áitribh, ceardlanna, feirmeacha, gairdíní, ábhair, trealamh agus saoráidí dá samhail a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil do réir mar is gá.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, an modh a shonrú ina gcuirfidh údarás sláinte ar fáil, agus a mhéid a chuirfeas sé ar fáil, an tseirbhis dá dtagartar i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo.
(3) Nuair a bheas údarás sláinte ag cur na seirbhíse dá dtagartar i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo ar fáil, sa mhéid go mbainfidh an tseirbhís sin le comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh le fostóirí d'fhonn daoine míchumasaithe a chur i bhfostaíocht oiriúnach, raghaidh an t-údarás sláinte i gcomhairle le pé ceardchumainn (más ann) a mheasfas sé a bheith ionadaitheach do dhaoine atá ar fostú sna fostaíochtaí iomchuí.
(4) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte trealamh, ábhar nó nithe dá samhail a chur ar fáil do na daoine a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (6) den alt seo.
(5) Déanfaidh údarás sláinte, do réir rialachán a dhéanfas an tAire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, socrú chun liúntais chothabhála d'íoc leis na daoine a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (6) den alt seo.
(6) Is iad na daoine dá dtagartar i bhfo-ailt (4) agus (5) den alt seo ná daoine míchumasaithe os cionn sé bliana déag d'aois nach féidir leo a gcothabháil féin a sholáthar agus nach féidir lena ngaolta, do réir bhrí an fho-ailt seo, cothabháil a sholáthar dóibh.
(7) Is gaol do dhuine, chun críocha fo-ailt (6) den alt seo, céile, mac, iníon nó tuismitheoir an duine sin, nó aon deartháir nó deirfiúr don duine sin a chónaíos go rialta leis an duine sin.
Ceantair íclainne.
51.—(1) Is ceantar íclainne chun críocha an Phríomh-Achta agus an Achta seo gach ceantar íclainne faoin Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, a bhí ann go díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, roinnt líomatáiste feidhme aon údaráis sláinte ina cheantair íclainne d'athrú.
(3) Má déantar ordú faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, a shocrú go ndéanfar, laistigh de líomatáiste feidhme an údaráis sláinte, aistriú mar is riachtanach nó is fóirstineach leis ar oifigigh a ndearna an t-ordú céadluaite athrú ar a gceantair.
(4) Sara ndéanfaidh an tAire ordú faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo, cuirfidh sé sonraí na n-aistrithe a beartaítear go dtí gach oifigeach a mbeartaítear é d'aistriú agus breithneoidh aon uiríolla a dhéanfas aon oifigeach den tsórt sin laistigh de pé tréimhse réasúnach a chinnfeas an tAire.
(5) Measfar, chun críocha aon achtacháin a bhaineas le haoisliúntas, nár cuireadh deireadh le hoifig aon oifigigh a haistreofar le hordú faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo.
Dochtúirí oifigiúla ceantair.
52.—(1) Beidh dochtúir oifigiúil ceantair nó beirt dochtúirí oifigiúla ceantair nó níos mó ann do cheantar íclainne.
(2) Ach amháin mar foráltar le fo-alt (3) den alt seo, is oifig faoin údarás sláinte dá cheantar oifig dhoctúra oifigiúil cheantair.
(3) Beidh oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil cheantair do cheantar íclainne atá suite i gceantar cúnaimh phoiblí boird chúnaimh nó boird chúnaimh phoiblí ina hoifig faoin mbord sin.
(4) Measfar, chun críocha alt 10 agus 20 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941 (Uimh. 23 de 1941), oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil cheantair lena mbaineann fo-alt (3) den alt seo a bheith ina hoifig faoi údarás sláinte a bhfuil ceantair iomlán, nó aon chuid de cheantar, an dochtúra oifigiúil cheantair sin ina líomatáiste feidhme.
(5) I gcás iomlán ceantair íclainne nó aon chuid de a bheith i gceantar uirbeach, measfar, chun críocha alt 10 agus 20 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941, oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil cheantair don cheantar sin a bheith, maidir le sannadh dualgas a bhaineas le feidhmeanna an údaráis sláintíochta uirbigh don cheantar uirbeach sin, ina hoifig faoin údarás sláintíochta uirbeach don cheantar uirbeach.
(6) I gcás ina raibh na Coimisinéirí um Cheapacháin Áitiúla, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, ag roghnú duine nó daoine a molfaí a cheapadh chun oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil cheantair íclainne, críochnófar an roghnú sin i pé slí is cuí leis na Coimisinéirí sin agus déanfar an duine, nó duine de na daoine, a roghnós agus a mholfas na Coimisinéirí amhlaidh a cheapadh ina dhochtúir oifigiúil ceantair don cheantar sin, agus beidh feidhm ag forála fo-alt (1) go (5) den alt seo maidir leis amhail is dá gceaptaí amhlaidh é roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo.
(7) Forléireofar mar thagairt don oifig a bunaítear leis an alt seo nó do shealbhóir na hoifige sin (do réir mar bheas) aon tagairt in aon achtachán a bheas i bhfeidhm i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo d'oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil cheantair íclainne nó dhochtúra oifigiúil cheantair nó do shealbhóir na hoifige sin.
(8) Beidh feidhm ag na forála seo a leanas maidir le duine ag a raibh i leith aon cheantair, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil faoi alt 41 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, agus oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil shláinte faoi alt 73 den Phríomh-Acht, i gcáil bhuan:
(a) i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo tiocfaidh an duine sin chun bheith, agus beidh sé, ina dhochtúir oifigiúil ceantair don cheantar sin,
(b) measfar, chun críocha aon achtacháin a bhaineas le haoisliúntas, nár cuireadh deireadh leis na hoifigí céadluaite.
Sealbhóirí oifigí áirithe faoi údaráis chúnaimh phoiblí.
53.—(1) Faoi réir fo-ailt (4) den alt seo, i gcás duine a bheith, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, ina shealbhóir i gcáil bhuan ar oifig faoi údarás cúnaimh phoiblí nár bhain a dualgais ach le cúnamh liachta do réir bhrí an Achta um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, nó le cúnamh ginearálta, do réir bhrí an Achta sin, a tugtar trí dhaoine a ligint isteach i bhforas, tiocfaidh an duine sin chun bheith, agus beidh sé, ina shealbhóir ar an oifig chéanna faoin údarás sláinte a bhfuil a líomatáiste feidhme comhthórannach le líomatáiste feidhme an údaráis chúnaimh phoiblí sin nó a bhfuil líomatáiste feidhme an údaráis chúnaimh phoiblí sin ina chuid dá líomatáiste feidhme.
(2) Chun críocha aon achtacháin a bhaineas le haoisliúntas measfar nár cuireadh deireadh leis an oifig sin adúradh faoi údarás cúnaimh phoiblí.
(3) Má tharlann aon cheist i dtaobh gan baint a bheith ag dualgais oifige áirithe faoi údarás cúnaimh phoiblí ach le cúnamh liachta do réir bhrí an Achta um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, nó le cúnamh ginearálta do réir bhrí an Achta sin, a tugtar trí dhaoine a ligint isteach i bhforas, is é an tAire a chinnfeas an cheist.
(4) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an alt seo maidir le haon duine a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, ina shealbhóir—
(a) ar oifig faoi bhord cúnaimh nó bord cúnaimh phoiblí,
(b) ar oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil faoi alt 41 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, nó
(c) ar oifig dhochtúra oifigiúil shláinte faoi alt 73 den Phríomh-Acht.
(5) Déanfaidh sealbhóir aon oifige faoi údarás cúnaimh phoiblí nach mbaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo léi pé dualgais a chomhlíonadh a sannfar dó maidir le feidhmeanna an údaráis sláinte don líomatáiste nó don cheantar dá ngníomhaíonn sé.
Dídean agus cothabháil i dteaghlach contae.
54.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “cúnamh forais” dídean agus cothabháil i dteaghlach contae nó i bhforas dá shamhail.
(2) Aon duine nach féidir leis dídean agus cothabháil a sholáthar dó féin nó dá chleithiúnaithe, beidh sé, chun críocha an ailt seo, i dteideal cúnaimh forais.
(3) Beidh de dhualgas ar údarás sláinte, faoi réim agus do réir forál an ailt seo agus na rialachán faoi, pé cúnamh forais is dóigh leo is gá nó is cuí i ngach cás ar leith a thabhairt do gach duine ina líomatáiste feidhme atá i dteideal cúnaimh forais.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh i dtaobh cúnamh forais a thabhairt agus féadfaidh na rialacháin sin a fhoráil go sonrach go gceanglófar ar dhaoine ranníoc a dhéanamh i gcásanna sonraithe i leith an chostais a bhainfeas le cúnamh forais a thabhairt dóibh.
(5) Gach duine a bheas á chothabháil ag údarás sláinte i dteaghlach contae nó i bhforas dá shamhail agus a iomprós é féin go mí-ordúil sa teaghlach nó sa bhforas sin, nó a bheas ina chúis anshocrachta míréasúnaí do dhaoine eile atá á gcothabháil sa teaghlach nó sa bhforas sin nó do dhaoine atá ar fostú ann, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin bhfo-alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear príosúntacht ar feadh téarma nach sia ná lá agus fiche a chur air.
(6) Má threoraíonn an tAire le hordú nach ndéanfaidh údarás sláinte, ná nach ndéanfar thar a cheann, aicme shonraithe daoine a dhídean ná a chothabháil faoin alt seo i bhforas sonraithe, ní dhéanfaidh an t-údarás (ach amháin i gcásanna lena ngabhann práinn agus riachtanas) daoine ar bith den aicme sin a dhídean ná a chothabháil sa bhforas sin ná a shocrú go ndéanfar amhlaidh.
(7) (a) I gcás duine a bheas á chothabháil ag údarás sláinte i dteaghlach contae nó i bhforas dá shamhail do dhéanamh oibre don údarás sin, measfar, maidir le déanamh na hoibre, é a bheith, chun críocha na nAcht um Chúiteamh do Lucht Oibre, 1934 go 1953, ina oibrí i bhfostaíocht an údaráis, ach ní oibreoidh déanamh na hoibre ag an duine sin, ach amháin mar adúradh, chun coibhneas máistir agus seirbhísigh ná conradh seirbhíse a chruthnú ná a thabhairt le tuiscint idir an t-údarás agus an duine sin.
(b) In aon imeachta faoi na hAchta um Chúiteamh do Lucht Oibre, 1934 go 1953, a tionscnófar de bhuaidh míre (a) den fho-alt seo, measfar an t-iarratasóir a bheith tar éis oibriú ar luach saothair agus déanfaidh an Chúirt méid an luach saothair a mheas do réir an méid is fiú an obair.
Leanaí a chur amach ar iostas, etc.
55.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte socrú a dhéanamh, do réir rialachán, chun cúnamh a thabhairt do leanbh lena mbaineann an fo-alt seo in aon tslí acu seo a leanas (laistigh nó lasmuigh dá líomatáiste feidhme), is é sin le rá, tríd an leanbh a chur amach ar iostas, nó trína chur chun scoile a bheas ceadaithe ag an Aire nó, má tá an leanbh ceithre bliana déag d'aois ar a laghad, trí fhostaíocht d'fháil dó nó trína chur le haon cheird, gairm, nó gnó oiriúnach.
(2) Baineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo le haon leanbh atá i dteideal cúnaimh forais faoi alt 54 den Acht seo agus—
(a) is leanbh dlisteanach a bhfuil a athair agus a mháthair tar éis bháis nó atá tréigthe ag a athair agus a mháthair nó (i gcás duine acu a bheith marbh) ag an marthanóir, nó
(b) is leanbh neamhdhlisteanach a bhfuil a mháthair marbh nó atá tréigthe ag a mháthair.
(3) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le ceadú an Aire, cúnamh a thabhairt d'aon duine atá i dteideal cúnaimh ghinearálta do réir bhrí an Achta um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, trí aon cheann de na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh, le toiliú an duine sin agus do réir rialachán, maidir le haon leanbh a ndlíonn an duine sin, faoin Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, é a chothabháil, is é sin le rá, an leanbh a chur amach ar iostas, nó é a chur chun scoile atá ceadaithe ag an Aire, nó, má tá an leanbh ceithre bliana déag d'aois ar a laghad, é a chur le haon cheird, gairm, nó gnó oiriúnach.
(4) Má chuireann údarás sláinte leanbh le ceird, gairm nó gnó oiriúnach faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an t-údarás pé táille nó suim is gá chuige sin d'íoc agus féadfaidh an leanbh a chothú nó ranníoc a dhéanamh chun é a chothú ar feadh aon tréimhse (lena n-áirítear, le toiliú an Aire, aon tréimhse tar éis dó sé bliana déag d'aois a shlánú) a chaithfeas sé ag foghlaim na ceirde, na gairme nó an ghnótha.
(5) Ar shé bliana déag d'aois a bheith slán ag leanbh a bheas curtha amach ar iostas nó a bheas curtha chun scoile de bhun an ailt seo, féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte, le toiliú an Aire, socrú a dhéanamh chun oideachas an linbh a chríochnú agus chun é a chothabháil le linn dó bheith ag críochnú a oideachais.
(6) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críocha an ailt seo.
(7) Aon leanbh a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, curtha amach ar iostas, curtha chun scoile nó curtha ar seirbhís nó curtha le ceird, gairm, nó gnó faoi alt 48 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, measfar (do réir mar is iomchuí) é a bheith curtha amach ar iostas, curtha chun scoile, curtha i bhfostaíocht, nó curtha le ceird, gairm, nó gnó ag an údarás sláinte iomchuí faoin alt seo.
(8) Measfar chun críocha an ailt seo gur scoil atá ceadaithe ag an Aire scoil a raibh deimhniú faoi alt 47 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, i bhfeidhm ina leith díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo.
(9) I gcás leanbh d'uchtáil faoin Acht Uchtála, 1952 (Uimh. 25 de 1952)—
(a) measfar ina dhiaidh sin chun críocha an ailt seo gur leanbh leis an uchtóir nó leis na huchtóirí, a rugadh dó, di nó dóibh de phósadh dleathach, an leanbh agus nach é leanbh aon duine eile é,
(b) mura bhfuil ann ach uchtóir amháin, cuirfear tagairt don athair nó don mháthair, nuair is iomchuí sin, i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo in ionad aon tagairte don athair agus don mháthair,
(c) i gcás an leanbh a bheith, díreach roimh an uchtáil, curtha amach ar iostas ag údarás sláinte leis an uchtóir nó na huchtóirí, féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte, faoi réir pé coinníollacha is oiriúnach leis, ranníoc a dhéanamh chun an leanbh a chothabháil amhail is dá leanadh sé de bheith amuigh ar iostas.
Leanbh amuigh ar iostas, etc. d'aistriú.
56.—(1) I gcás údarás sláinte a bheith tar éis leanbh a chur amach ar iostas, fostaíocht d'fháil do leanbh, nó leanbh a chur le ceird, gairm, nó gnó, féadfaidh an t-údarás, le toiliú an Aire, aon tráth sara mbeidh sé bliana déag d'aois slán ag an leanbh, agus déanfaidh an t-údarás, má iarrann an tAire air é, an leanbh a thógaint as coimeád an duine ag a raibh sé ar iostas, ar fostú, nó curtha le ceird, gairm, nó gnó amhlaidh.
(2) I gcás údarás sláinte a bheith tar éis leanbh a chur chun scoile atá ceadaithe ag an Aire—
(a) féadfaidh an t-údarás aon tráth, le toiliú an Aire, an leanbh a thógaint ón scoil, agus
(b) déanfaidh an t-údarás an leanbh a thógaint ón scoil má iarrann agus nuair a iarrfas an tAire nó bainisteoirí na scoile air é nó ar an scoil a scor de bheith ceadaithe ag an Aire.
(3) Má thógann údarás sláinte leanbh as coimeád duine ag a bhfuil an leanbh ar iostas, ar fostú, nó curtha le ceird, gairm nó gnó, beidh deireadh le haon chonradh idir an t-údarás agus an duine sin maidir leis an leanbh láithreach ar an leanbh a thógaint uaidh.
(4) I gcás ina gcumhachtaítear d'údarás sláinte nó ina gceanglaítear air leis an alt seo nó faoi leanbh a thógaint as coimeád duine, déanfaidh an duine sin coimeád an linbh a thabhairt suas don údarás ar sin d'éileamh air agus, má dhiúltaíonn nó má fhaillíonn an duine sin go toiliúil coimeád an linbh a thabhairt suas amhlaidh, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin bhfo-alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná deich bpunt a chur air.
(5) I gcás duine a chiontú i gcion faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo déanfaidh an Chúirt ordú chun an leanbh a thógaint as a choimeád agus é a chur i gcoimeád an údaráis sláinte.
Údarás áitiúil chun críocha Coda I den Children Act, 1908.
57.—I dtosach feidhme an ailt seo scoirfidh údaráis chúnaimh phoiblí de bheith ina n-údaráis áitiúla chun críocha Coda I den Children Act, 1908, agus, ina ionad sin, beidh gach údarás sláinte, i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo agus dá éis sin, ina údarás áitiúil chun na gcríocha sin maidir lena líomatáiste feidhme.
Rialacháin i dtaobh ábhar líonta.
58.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh—
(a) ag ordú caighdeáin ghlaineachta le haghaidh ábhair líonta go ginearálta nó maidir le cineál áirithe d'ábhar líonta,
(b) á thoirmeasc ábhar líonta nach bhfuil do réir an chaighdeáin ordaithe a dhíol nó a choimeád chun a dhíolta, nó d'úsáid nó a choimeád chun a úsáidte, le feisteas leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagáin nó earraí dá samhail a dhéanamh,
(c) á thoirmeasc aon fheisteas leapan, cúisín, earra forchumhdaigh, bréagán nó earra dá samhail ina bhfuil ábhar líonta nach bhfuil do réir an chaighdeáin ordaithe a dhíol nó a choimeád chun a dhíolta.
(2) Féadfaidh Rialacháin faoin alt seo—
(a) a fhoráil go ndéanfaidh oifigigh don Aire, údaráis sláinte agus a n-oifigigh agus, le toiliú an Aire Rialtais Áitiúil, oifigigh d'údaráis sláintíochta, na rialacháin a chur i bhfeidhm agus d'fhorghníomhú,
(b) a fhoráil go gcuirfear ar chumas daoine sonraithe (is oifigigh údaraithe chun críocha Coda IX den Phríomh-Acht) ábhar líonta nach bhfuil do réir an chaighdeáin ordaithe d'urghabháil agus d'aistriú agus é a choinneáil agus a dhíthiú nó é a chur dá dhiúscairt ar shlí oiriúnach eile,
(c) a fhoráil go dtabharfar agus go dtógfar samplaí (gan íocaíocht) agus go ndéanfar tástála, scrúduithe agus taifeach ar na samplaí sin,
(d) a ordú cad iad na haicmí daoine a bheas freagrach i dtástáil, scrúdú agus taifeach samplaí d'ábhair líonta agus cad iad na córacha lena ndéanfar agus cad é an modh ar a ndéanfar aon tástáil, scrúdú nó taifeach den tsórt sin,
(e) a ordú cad é an deimhniú nó an fhianaise eile a bhéarfar de thoradh aon tástála, scrúduithe nó taifigh den tsórt sin agus cad iad na haicmí daoine a bhéarfar nó dá dtabharfar aon deimhniú nó fianaise den tsórt sin,
(f) a fhoráil go mbeidh aon deimhniú nó fianaise eile a hordófar faoi mhír (e) den fho-mhír seo agus a bhéarfar i leith tástála, scrúduithe nó taifigh shampla ina fhianaise i leith an tsampla sin chun gach críche ar thoradh na tástála, an scrúduithe nó an taifigh,
(g) a fhoráil go gceadúnófar nó go gclárófar áitribh ina gcoimeádfar ábhar líonta chun a dhíolta nó chun a úsáidte le feisteas leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagáin, nó earraí dá samhail a dhéanamh agus go dtoirmiscfear ábhar líonta a choimeád chun a dhíolta nó chun a úsáidte mar adúradh in áitribh nach bhfuil ceadúnaithe nó cláraithe,
(h) foráil a dhéanamh i dtaobh coinníollacha a bhainfeas le ceadúnas nó clárú a dheonadh, a choinneáil nó d'athnuachaint,
(i) a fhoráil go ngearrfar táillí maidir le ceadúnas nó clárú a dheonadh, a choinneáil nó d'athnuachaint,
(j) a fhoráil go gcuirfear marc nó lipéad sonraithe ar fheisteas leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagáin nó earraí dá samhail ina bhfuil ábhar líonta,
(k) a fhoráil go ndéanfaidh daoine atá ag monarú, ag ullmhú, ag allmhuiriú, ag stóráil, ag imdháil nó ag díol ábhair líonta nó feistis leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagán nó earraí dá samhail ina bhfuil ábhar líonta, taifid a choimeád agus na taifid sin a thabhairt ar aird lena n-iniúchadh ag oifigigh a bhfuil baint acu leis na rialacháin a chur i bhfeidhm nó d'fhorghníomhú.
(3) Má fhorálann rialacháin faoi fho-alt (1) den alt go mbeidh aon deimhniú áirithe nó aon fhianaise áirithe eile ina fhianaise chun gach críche ar thoradh tástála, scrúduithe nó taifigh shampla, glacfaidh gach Cúirt Breithiúnais leis an deimhniú sin nó leis an fhianaise eile sin, i gcás an tsampla sin, mar fhianaise ar thoradh na tástála, an scrúduithe nó an taifigh sin agus glacfaidh gach Cúirt Bhreithiúnais freisin leis mar fhianaise go ndearnadh an tástáil, an scrúdú nó an taifeach sin faoi réim agus do réir na rialachán.
(4) Má cúisítear duine i dtaobh aon ábhar líonta nó aon fheisteas leapan, cúisín, earra forchumhdaigh, bréagán nó earra dá samhail a bheith á choimeád chun a dhíolta aige, contrártha do rialacháin faoin alt seo, agus go gcruthófar go raibh an t-ábhar nó an earra i seilbh an duine sin, measfar, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gur chun a dhíolta a bhí an t-ábhar nó an earra á choimeád aige.
(5) Má cúisítear duine i dtaobh aon ábhar líonta a bheith á choimeád aige, contrártha do rialacháin faoin alt seo, chun feisteas leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagáin nó earraí dá samhail a dhéanamh agus go gcruthófar go raibh an t-ábhar i seilbh an duine sin, measfar, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gur chun na húsáide sin a bhí an t-ábhar á choimeád aige.
(6) Má chruthaíonn an cosantóir in aon inchúiseamh i leith ciona faoin alt seo—
(a) gur cheannaigh sé—
(i) ábhar líonta mar ábhar a bhí de chaighdeán glaineachta nach mbeadh contrártha d'aon rialachán faoin alt seo, nó
(ii) earra mar earra nach raibh inti ach ábhar líonta den chaighdeán sin agus le baránta scríofa á dheimhniú sin, agus
(b) nach raibh aon chúis aige chun a chreidiúint, an tráth a rinne sé an cion a bhfuil sé á chúiseamh ann, nach raibh an t-ábhar líonta do réir an chaighdeáin ghlaineachta ordaithe, agus
(c) go raibh an t-ábhar líonta, an tráth sin, sa staid chéanna ina raibh an tráth a cheannaigh sé é,
urscaoilfear an cosantóir ón inchúiseamh ach dlífidh sé na costais faoina ndeachaigh an t-inchúisitheoir d'íoc, murar thug sé fógra cuí don inchúisitheoir go raibh beartaithe aige seasamh ar an gcosaint sin.
(7) Measfar chun críocha míre (a) d'fho-alt (6) den alt seo gur baránta aon ráiteas ó mhonaróir, allmhuireoir nó díoltóir aon ábhair líonta nó aon fheistis leapan, cúisín, earra forchumhdaigh, bréagáin nó earra dá samhail ina bhfuil ábhar líonta ar ráiteas é maidir le caighdeán glaineachta an ábhair líonta agus atá i bhforchuntas nó ar lipéad a ghabhas leis an ábhar líonta nó leis an earra nó atá ar an gcoimeádán ina ndíoltar an t-ábhar líonta.
(8) Má chítear don údarás nó don oifigeach a bheas ag cur rialachán i bhfeidhm a rinneadh faoin alt seo go ndearnadh cion a bhféadfaí imeachta a thionscnamh ina leith faoin alt seo i gcoinne duine éigin ach go bhféadfadh an duine sin cosaint a shuíomh faoi fho-alt (6) den alt seo trína chruthú gur gníomh nó mainneachtaint duine éigin eile faoi deara an cion atá á ghearán, féadfaidh an t-údarás nó an t-oifigeach sin imeachta a thionscnamh i gcoinne an duine eile sin gan imeachta a thionscnamh i gcoinne an duine chéadluaite.
(9) Aon duine a shárós rialachán faoin alt seo nó a choiscfeas go toiliúil forghníomhú rialacháin faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúntacht ar feadh aon téarma nach sia ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúntacht sin le chéile.
(10) Féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh cion faoin alt seo inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith an chiona sin.
(11) San alt seo folaíonn an abairt “ábhar líonta”—
(a) ceirt-fhlocas a déantar go hiomlán nó go páirteach trí ábhar fite, cniotáilte, feiltithe nó sníofa, nó earraí eile dá samhail, nua nó sean, a stracadh ó chéile, agus
(b) rón, snáithreach, clúmh, cleití, bearrtháin adhmaid, min shábh, tuí agus ábhair eile dá samhail, nua nó sean, a húsáidtear i ndéanamh feistis leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagán nó earraí dá samhail, agus
(c) líneála, uigis agus clúdaigh (seachas clúdaigh imeachtracha) a húsáidtear i ndéanamh feistis leapan, cúisíní, earraí forchumhdaigh, bréagán nó earraí dá samhail.
Usáid, etc., substaintí raidghníomhacha agus goiris ruithniúcháin a rialú.
59.—(1) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn an focal “substaint” substaint aiceanta nó shaorga, pé acu i bhfoirm sholadach nó lachtach nó i bhfoirm gháis nó ghaile dhi, lena n-áirítear ullmhóid nó earra mhonaraithe nó earra a cuireadh faoi aon chóireáil nó próis shaorga;
ciallaíonn an abairt “substaint raidghníomhach” substaint arb é atá inti, nó a bhfuil inti, aon dúil cheimiceach raidghníomhach, aiceanta nó saorga;
ciallaíonn an abairt “substaint raidghníomhach liachta” substaint raidghníomhach is féidir d'úsáid mar ghníomhaire urchoscach eadargnaíoch nó freapach chun aon tinneas, éiglíocht, gortú nó éalaing ar dhaoine a chosc nó a chóireáil;
ciallaíonn an abairt “goireas ruithniúcháin liachta” goireas ruithniúcháin is féidir d'úsáid mar ghníomhaire urchoscach, eadargnaíoch nó freapach chun aon tinneas, éiglíocht, gortú nó éalaing ar dhaoine a chosc nó a chóireáil.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh i dtaobh substaintí raidghníomhacha liachta i gcoitinne, nó aon tsubstaint raidghníomhach liachta áirithe, a stóráil, d'úsáid, d'onnmhuiriú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh i dtaobh goireas ruithniúcháin liachta i gcoitinne, nó aon chineál áirithe goiris den tsórt sin, a mhonarú, d'allmhuiriú, d'imdháil, a dhíol, a thairiscint nó a choimeád chun a dhíolta, d'úsáid, d'onnmhuiriú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh—
(a) chun contúirt dá sláinte a sheachaint i gcás daoine a bhíos ag úsáid substaintí raidghníomhacha nó goiris ruithniúcháin agus i gcás daoine eile a mbeadh an úsáid sin ina contúirt dá sláinte,
(b) chun a áirithiú go ndéanfar dramh-tháirgí raidghníomhacha a thig d'úsáid substaintí raidghníomhacha nó goiris ruithniúcháin a dhiúscairt go sábháilte.
(5) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh go háirithe i dtaobh gach ceann nó aon cheann de na nithe seo a leanas:
(a) na rialacháin a chur i bhfeidhm agus d'fhorghníomhú—
(i) ag oifigigh don Aire,
(ii) ag údaráis sláinte agus a n-oifigigh,
(iii) le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, ag oifigigh Chustam agus Máil,
(iv) le toiliú an Aire Thionscail agus Tráchtála, ag oifigigh don Aire sin,
(v) le toiliú an Aire Thalmhaíochta, ag oifigigh don Aire sin,
(b) toirmeasc iomlán a chur ar shubstaintí raidghníomhacha liachta a stóráil, d'úsáid, d'onnmhuiriú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile, nó sin a thoirmeasc ach amháin faoi réir coinníollacha sonraithe (lena n-áirítear ceadúnas a dheonadh lena stóráil, a n-úsáid, a n-onnmhuiriú nó a ndiúscairt ar shlí eile),
(c) toirmeasc iomlán a chur ar ghoireas ruithniúcháin a mhonarú, d'allmhuiriú, d'imdháil, a dhíol, a thairiscint nó a choimeád chun a dhíolta, d'úsáid, d'onnmhuiriú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile nó sin a thoirmeasc ach amháin faoi réir coinníollacha sonraithe (lena n-áirítear ceadúnas a dheonadh lena mhonarú, a allmhuiriú, a imdháil, a dhíol, a thairiscint nó a choimeád chun a dhíolta, a úsáid, a onnmhuiriú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile),
(d) na haicmí daoine dá ndeonfar ceadúnais faoi na rialacháin a chinneadh,
(e) coinníollacha d'ordú a rialós deonadh, coinneáil nó athnuachaint cheadúnas faoi na rialacháin,
(f) ceadúnais a dhiúltú nó a chúlghairm faoi na rialacháin,
(g) samplaí de shubstaintí raidghníomhacha a thabhairt agus a thógaint, le híocaíocht nó gan íocaíocht (mar fhorálfas na rialacháin),
(h) táillí a ghearradh (pé acu táillí iad a bheas seasta nó athraitheach, nó a mbeidh cuid díobh seasta agus cuid díobh athraitheach) maidir le ceadúnais a dheonadh, a choinneáil nó d'athnuachaint faoi na rialacháin.
(6) Ní thoirmiscfidh rialacháin faoin alt seo go hiomlán ar lia-chleachtóir cláraithe i gcleachtadh liachta ná ar dhéadlia cláraithe i gcleachtadh déadliachta aon tsubstaint raidghníomhach nó aon ghoireas ruithniúcháin d'úsáid, ná ní cheanglóid ar lia-chleachtóir cláraithe ná ar dhéadlia cláraithe ceadúnas a bheith aige chun substaintí raidghníomhacha nó goireas ruithniúcháin d'úsáid i gcleachtadh liachta nó i gcleachtadh déadliachta, pé acu é, ná chun cainníochtaí de shubstaintí raidghníomhacha is gá go réasúnach dá chleachtadh a stóráil.
(7) Aon duine a shárós rialachán faoi alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná cúig chéad punt a chur air agus aon tsubstaint nó goireas a ndearnadh an cion ina leith d'fhorghéilleadh.
(8) Féadfaidh an tAire nó an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh cion faoin alt seo inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith an chiona.
Usáid mílnimheanna áirithe a thoirmeasc nó a rialú.
60.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh ag toirmeasc nó ag rialú úsáide substaintí ina bhfuil gorachtaí beo d'orgánachtaí a ghineas galar sa duine ag díthiú ainmhithe.
(2) Féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh go háirithe i dtaobh aon ní nó gach ní acu seo a leanas:
(a) na rialacháin a chur i bhfeidhm agus d'fhorghníomhú —
(i) ag oifigigh don Aire,
(ii) ag údaráis sláinte agus a n-oifigigh,
(b) toirmeasc a chur ar shubstaintí ina bhfuil gorachtaí beo d'orgánachtaí a ghineas galar sa duine d'úsáid ag díthiú ainmhithe ach amháin faoi réir coinníollacha sonraithe (lena n-áirítear ceadúnas a dheonadh le haghaidh na húsáide sin),
(c) na haicmí daoine dá ndeonfar ceadúnais faoi na rialacháin a chinneadh,
(d) coinníollacha d'ordú a rialós deonadh, coinneáil agus athnuachaint cheadúnas faoi na rialacháin,
(e) ceadúnais a dhiúltú nó a chúlghairm faoi na rialacháin,
(f) táillí a ghearradh maidir le ceadúnais a dheonadh, a choinneáil nó d'athnuachaint faoi na rialacháin.
(3) Aon duine a shárós rialachán faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná caoga punt a chur air.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire nó an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh cion faoin alt seo inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith ciona.
Usáid mhúchtán a rialú.
61.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Talmhaíochta, a dhearbhú, le hordú, maidir le múchtán sonraithe—
(a) go mbeidh srian leis an múchtán d'úsáid i ngach cás, nó
(b) go mbeidh srian leis an múchtán d'úsáid chun críche sonraithe nó in imthosca sonraithe.
(2) Má dhearbhaíonn ordú faoin alt seo go mbeidh srian le múchtán d'úsáid i ngach cás, ní úsáidfidh duine ar bith an múchtán ach amháin le cead príomh-dhochtúra oifigiúil an líomatáiste ina mbeidh an múchtán le húsáid agus do réir aon treoracha a bhéarfas an príomh-dhochtúir oifigiúil d'fhonn sláinte an phobail a chaomhaint.
(3) Má dhearbhaíonn ordú faoin alt seo go mbeidh srian le múchtán d'úsáid chun críche áirithe nó in imthosca áirithe, ní úsáidfidh duine an múchtán chun na críche sin ná sna himthosca sin (pé acu é) ach amháin le cead an phríomh-dhochtúra oifigiúil don líomatáiste ina mbeidh an múchtán le húsáid agus do réir aon treoracha a bhéarfas an príomh-dhochtúir oifigiúil d'fhonn sláinte an phobail a chaomhaint.
(4) Aon duine a shárós fo-alt (2) nó fo-alt (3) den alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná caoga punt a chur air.
(5) Féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a rinneadh cion faoin alt seo inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith an chiona.
Saoráidí chun míochaine chliniciúil a theagasc nó taighde míochaine a dhéanamh.
62.—(1) I gcás coláiste a dhámhas aon diplóma cáilitheach dá luaitear sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhas le hAcht na nDoctúirí Leighis, 1927 (Uimh. 25 de 1927), nó coláiste d'ollscoil a dhámhas aon diplóma den tsórt sin, a bheith ag iarraidh saoráidí chun míochaine chliniciúil a theagasc nó taighde míochaine a dhéanamh i bhforas sláinte:—
(a) féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis é, a dhearbhú le hordú gur foras teagaisc an foras sin,
(b) arna dhearbhú gur foras teagaisc an foras—
(i) beidh de dhualgas ar an údarás sláinte atá ag cothabháil an fhorais pé saoráidí a chur ar fáil sa bhforas chun míochaine chliniciúil a theagasc, nó chun taighde míochaine a dhéanamh, a threorós an tAire ó am go ham,
(ii) maidir le haon cheapachán a dhéanamh chun foirinne an fhorais ar dóigh leis an Aire go ngabhann dualgais leis a bhaineas le míochaine chliniciúil a theagasc nó taighde míochaine a dhéanamh faoi stiúradh coláiste nó coláistí den tsórt sin, beidh ar aon bhord a cheapfas na Coimisinéirí um Cheapacháin Áitiúla do réir ailt 9 d'Acht na nUdarás Áitiúla (Oifigigh agus Fostaithe), 1926 (Uimh. 39 de 1926), chun iarrthóirí d'agallamh, cathaoirleach a ainmneos an tAire agus uimhir de chomhaltaí eile a n-ainmneoidh an coláiste nó na coláistí sin a leath.
(2) San alt seo forléireofar “míochaine” mar fhocal a fholaíos máinliacht agus asaoideacht.
Cúrsaí teagaisc do dhochtúirí oifigiúla.
63.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn an abairt “dochtúir oifigiúil” oifigeach d'údarás sláinte a bhfuil a oifig ina hoifig ar gá dá sealbhóir bheith ina lia-chleachtóir cláraithe.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le ceadú an Aire, gach ní is gá a dhéanamh chun cúrsaí teagaisc a chur ar fáil ó am go ham do dhochtúirí oifigiúla (lena n-áirítear dochtúirí oifigiúla d'údaráis eile).
(3) Má chuireann údarás sláinte cúrsa teagaisc ar fáil faoin alt seo, féadfaidh sé dá rogha féin, cead a thabhairt do lia-chleachtóirí cláraithe nach dochtúirí oifigiúla freastal ar an gcúrsa sin.
(4) Bhéarfaidh an tAire fógra do Chomhairle Chláraitheachta na nDochtúirí Leighis i dtaobh cúrsaí teagaisc a ceadófar faoin alt seo.
(5) Ní forléireofar aon ní san alt seo mar ní a chuireas d'oblagáid ar dhochtúir oifigiúil freastal ar chúrsa teagaisc a cuirfear ar fáil faoin alt seo.
Scoileanna oiliúna d'altraí.
64.—(1) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn an abairt “scoil altranais” scoil chun daoine d'oiliúint chun bheith ina n-altraí;
ciallaíonn an abairt “altra foghlama” duine atá faoi oiliúnt chun a bheith ina altra.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le toiliú an Aire, agus déanfaidh sé, má ordaíonn an tAire amhlaidh, scoil altranais a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil i ndáil le foras sláinte atá á chothabháil aige, agus féadfaidh sé, faoi réir pé coinníollacha is cuí leis, daoine a ligint isteach sa scoil sin mar altraí foghlama.
(3) Aon údarás sláinte a chothabhálfas scoil altranais faoin alt seo, féadfaidh sé, le toiliú an Aire, luach saothair d'íoc le haltra foghlama sa scoil sin.
Cúnamh do chomhluchtaí áirithe.
65.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le ceadú an Aire, cúnamh a thabhairt in aon tslí nó slite acu seo a leanas d'aon chomhlucht a thugas seirbhís nó a bheartós seirbhís a thabhairt atá cosúil nó fó-ghabhálach le seirbhís a fhéadfas an t-údarás sláinte a thabhairt:
(a) trí ranníoc a dhéanamh i leith na gcaiteachas faoina raghaidh an comhlucht,
(b) trí bhreosla, solas, bia, uisce nó earra eile a sholáthar don chomhlucht,
(c) trí úsáid áitribh atá á chothabháil ag an údarás sláinte a cheadú don chomhlucht agus, i gcás inar gá é, athrú agus deisiú a dhéanamh ar an áitreabh sin agus troscán agus feistis a sholáthar dó,
(d) trí áitreabh (maraon leis an troscán agus na feistis uile is gá) a sholáthar chun úsáide an chomhluchta.
(2) Féadfaidh údarás sláinte, le ceadú an Aire, ranníoc a dhéanamh le ciste aon chumainn chun cruálacht ar leanaí a chosc.
Tithe cónaithe íclainne faoin Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939.
66.—(1) Gach teach cónaithe a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, á chothabháil faoi alt 43 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, ag comhairle chontae nó bardas contaebhuirge mar údarás cúnaimh phoiblí, measfar, i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo agus dá éis sin, gurb amhlaidh a chuir an chomhairle nó an bardas sin ar fáil faoi alt 105 den Phríomh-Acht é.
(2) I gcás feidhm a bheith ag alt 105 den Phríomh-Acht maidir le bord cúnaimh nó bord cúnaimh phoiblí, de bhuaidh orduithe faoi alt 45 nó alt 46 den Acht seo a thiocfas i bhfeidhm i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo, ansin, gach teach cónaithe a bhí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, á chothabháil faoi alt 43 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, ag an mbord sin, measfar, i dtosach feidhme an ailt seo agus dá éis sin, gurb amhlaidh a chuir an bord sin ar fáil faoi alt 105 de Phríomh-Acht é.
(3) I gcás teach cónaithe a bheith i gcúrsa a thógála faoi alt 43 den Acht um Chúnamh Phoibli, 1939, ag údarás cúnaimh phoiblí, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, críochnófar an teach cónaithe sin amhail is nár ritheadh an tAcht seo, agus, ar é a bheith críochnaithe, beidh feidhm ina leith ag fo-alt (1) nó fo-alt (2) den alt seo (pé acu is iomchuí).
An caiteachas ar sheirbhís sláinte airmheánach a a chíonroinnt.
67.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “seirbhís sláinte airmheánach” seirbhís a chuirfeas Aire Stáit ar fáil do réir dlí ar mhaithe le dhá údarás nó níos mó lena mbaineann an t-alt seo.
(2) Má théann an tAire nó aon Aire Stáit eile faoi chaiteachas ag cur aon tseirbhíse sláinte airmheánaí ar fáil, féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, iomlán an chaiteachais nó cuid de a chionroinnt ar na húdaráis iomchuí do réir mar is réasúnach leis.
(3) Íocfaidh údarás lena mbaineann an t-alt seo leis an Aire aon tsuim a cionroinnfear air le hordú faoin alt seo, agus air sin íocfar an tsuim sin isteach sa Stát-Chiste nó cuirfear chun tairbhe don Stát-Chiste í do réir treoracha an Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Mura n-íocfaidh údarás sláinte suim a cionroinnfear air le hordú faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire an tsuim a bhaint as aon tsuim is iníoctha leis an údarás sin faoin Acht Seirbhísí Sláinte (Forála Airgeadais), 1947.
(5) Is údarás lena mbaineann an t-alt seo gach údarás acu seo a leanas:—
(a) údarás sláinte,
(b) údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar faoin Acht Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945 (Uimh. 19 de 1945).
Lón beatha agus uisce d'fhoirne long Éireannacha d'iniúchadh.
68.—(1) Féadfaidh oifigeach údaraithe, i gcás loinge Éireannaí, aon iniúchadh a dhéanamh faoi alt 206 den Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, nó alt 26 den Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, ar an modh céanna ar a bhféadfadh, agus leis na cumhachta céanna lena bhféadfadh, dá mbeadh sé arna cheapadh go cuí faoin alt sin 206.
(2) Féadfaidh an t-údarás sláinte inchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith aon chiona a bhfuil inchúiseamh le déanamh ina leith de dhroim iniúchta a rinne oifigeach údaraithe de bhun an ailt seo.
(3) San alt seo—
tá leis an abairt “long Éireannach” an bhrí atá léi san Acht Loingis Cheannaíochta, 1947 (Uimh. 46 de 1947);
ciallaíonn “oifigeach údaraithe” oifigeach d'údarás sláinte a cheap an bainisteoir don údarás sláinte i scríbhinn ina oifigeach údaraithe chun críocha an ailt seo,
Feidhm an Achta um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, a shrianadh.
69.—Scoirfidh an tAcht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939, d'éifeacht a bheith aige, maidir le soláthar—
(a) cúnaimh liachta mar mínítear sin san Acht sin, agus
(b) cúnaimh ghinearálta, mar mínítear sin san Acht sin, a tugtar trí dhaoine a ligint isteach i bhforas,
agus forléireofar an tAcht sin dá réir sin.
Leasú ar an Acht Eitinne (Sanatoria a Bhunú), 1945.
70.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “an tAcht” an tAcht Eitinne (Sanatoria a Bhunú), 1945 (Uimh. 4 de 1945).
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 6 den Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach in ndiaidh fo-ailt (2):
“(2a) D'ainneoin fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, nuair is dóigh leis an Aire bunú sanatorium faoin Acht seo a bheith críochnaithe, féadfaidh sé, más cuí leis é, a eastát nó a leas sa talamh ar a mbeidh an sanatorium curtha ar bun, agus trealamh an sanatorium, d'aistriú chun comhbhoird a bunófar le hordú faoi alt 45 den Acht Sláinte, 1953, agus, i gcás aon aistrithe den tsórt sin, beidh éifeacht ag fo-alt (2) den alt alt seo ach ‘ag an gcomhbhord’ a chur in ionad ‘ag an údarás contae nó na húdaráis chontae’”.
(3) Cuirfear an t-alt seo a leanas leis an Acht, i ndiaidh ailt 17:
Talamh barrachais a dhiuscairt. | “18. (1) I gcás an tAire a bheith tar éis talamh a thógaint faoin gCuid seo den Acht seo agus, maidir leis an talamh sin nó aon chuid de— |
(a) nach mbeidh an tAire tar éis a eastát nó a leas ann d'aistriú faoi fho-alt (2) nó fo-alt (2a) d'alt 6 den Acht seo, agus | |
(b) gur dóigh leis an Aire nach gá a thuilleadh an talamh sin nó an chuid de chun sanatorium a bhunú, | |
féadfaidh an tAire an talamh sin nó an chuid sin de a dhiúscairt í pé slí is cuí leis. | |
(2) An t-airgead uile a gheobhas an tAire i leith talamh a dhiúscairt faoin alt seo, íocfaidh sé le Bord Iontaobhais na nOspidéal é agus beidh sé ina chuid de Chiste Iontaobhais na nOspidéal. |
Leasú ar an Acht Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945.
71.—(1) San alt seo ciallaíonn “an tAcht” an tAcht Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 19 den Acht (a shonraíos dualgas ginearálta údarás ospidéil meabhair-ghalar chun cóireáil, cothabháil, comhairle agus seirbhísí a sholáthar) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad míre (c):
“(c) ina mbeidh an duine sin in aon cheann, nó i gcleithiúnas duine atá in aon cheann, de na haicmí a luaitear i míreanna (a), (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (2) d'alt 15 den Acht Sláinte, 1953, nó ina mbeadh, dar leis an údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar don cheantar ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar sin, an duine sin (i dteannta na ndaoine, más ann, a dhlíos é a chothabháil) neamhachmhainneach, gan chruatan míchuí, ar chostas iomlán na cóireála, na cothabhála, na comhairle nó na seirbhíse sin a sholáthar,”.
(3) Cuirfear an míniú seo a leanas in alt 3 den Acht in ionad an mhínithe ar “othar inmhuirir”:
“ciallaíonn an abairt ‘othar inmhuirir’ othar atá ag fáil cúnaimh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar agus atá in aon cheann, nó i gcleithiúnas duine atá in aon cheann, de na haicmí a luaitear i míreanna (a), (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (2) d'alt 15 den Acht Sláinte, 1953, nó atá (i dteannta na ndaoine, más ann, a dhlíos é a chothabháil) neamhacmhainneach, gan chruatan míchuí, dar leis an údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar, ar chostas iomlán an chúnaimh sin a sholáthar;”.
(4) In ionad fo-ailt (2) d'alt 170, fo-ailt (2) d'alt 187 agus fo-ailt (2) d'alt 193 den Acht, cuirfear an fo-alt seo a leanas i ngach cás:
“(2) Na caiteachais a híocfar faoin alt seo, beid iníoctha ag an údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar agus áireofar iad mar chuid de chostas an chúnaimh ospidéil mheabhairghalar don duine a ndeachthas fúthu ina leith.”.
(5) I mír (b) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 175 den Acht, cuirfear “an t-údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar don cheantar ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar” in ionad “an t-údarás cúnaimh phoiblí don cheantar cúnaimh phoiblí”.
(6) In ionad fo-ailt (2) d'alt 175 den Acht cuirfear an fo-alt seo a leanas:
“(2) Na caiteachais a aisíocfas údarás ospidéil mheabhair ghalar faoin alt seo, áireofar iad mar chuid de chostas an chúnaimh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar don duine a ndeachthas fúthu ina leith.”
(7) In alt 224 den Acht cuirfear “cúnaimh forais faoi alt 54 den Acht Sláinte, 1953,” in ionad “cúnaimh phoiblí faoin Acht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939 (Uimh. 27 de 1939),” agus cuirfear “forais ina bhfuil cúnamh forais á sholáthar ag an údarás sláinte ar ina líomatáiste feidhme a chónaigh sé de ghnáth” in ionad “forais cheantair iomchuí an cheantair chúnaimh phoiblí inar chónaigh sé”.
(8) Cuirfear an t-alt seo a leanas isteach san Acht i ndiaidh ailt 231:
Muirir i gcásanna áirithe agus a ngnóthú. | “231A.—(1) Má fuair duine cúnamh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar agus go bhfaighfear amach nárbh othar inmhuirir é, féadfaidh an t-údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar pé muirear a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire d'éileamh i leith an chúnaimh. |
(2) Bhéarfar cúnamh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar in aisce do na daoine a sonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) d'alt 14 den Acht Sláinte, 1953, agus do pé daoine eile, is othair inmhuirir, a chinnfeas an t-údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar. | |
(3) Má tugtar cúnamh ospidéil mheabhairghalar d'othair inmhuirir i gcásanna nach mbaineann fo-alt (2) den alt seo leo, éileofar pé muirir, nach mó ná sé scillinge in aghaidh gach lae a bhéarfar cúnamh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar, a chinnfeas an t-údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar, ach amháin sna cásanna sin (nach cásanna daoine in aon aicme dá luaitear i míreanna (a), (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (2) d'alt 15 den Acht Sláinte, 1953, nó cleithiúnaithe ar dhaoine den tsórt sin) a sonrófar le rialacháin a dhéanfas an tAire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, agus sna cásanna sin éileofar na muirir a cheadós nó a threorós an tAire i leith costais an chúnaimh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar. | |
(4) Féadfar aon mhuirear faoin alt seo nach n-íocfar a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla— | |
(a) ón duine ar ina leith a héilítear an muirear nó, i gcás an duine sin a bheith tar éis bháis, óna ionadaí pearsanta dlíthiúil, nó | |
(b) ó aon duine eile a dhlíos an duine sin a chothabháil nó, i gcás an duine eile sin sin a bheith tar éis bháis, óna ionadaí pearsanta dlíthiúil.” |
(9) I bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 274 den Acht cuirfear “an t-údarás ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar don cheantar ospidéil mheabhairghalar” in ionad “an t-údarás cúnaimh phoiblí don cheantar chúnaimh phoiblí”.
(10) In ionad fo-ailt (2) d'alt 274 den Acht cuirfear an fo-alt seo a leanas:
“(2) Aon táille a híocfar faoin alt seo, áireofar í mar chuid de chostas an chúnaimh ospidéil mheabhair-ghalar don duine a scrúdaíodh.”
(11) Cuirfear an t-alt seo a leanas isteach san Acht i ndiaidh ailt 279:
Achomhairc ó bhreatha áirithe. | “279A.—Más í breith a tugtar de bhun míre (b) d'fho-alt (2) d'alt 15 den Acht Sláinte, 1953, mar bheirtear feidhm di leis an Acht seo, nach lú ná sé chéad punt acmhainn bhliantúil an duine aosaithe, féadfar achomarc i gcoinne na breithe sin a dhéanamh chun duine a cheapfas an tAire, agus féadfaidh rialacháin ón Aire foráil a dhéanamh i dtaobh achomhairc a dhéanamh agus a chinneadh faoin alt seo.” |
Leasú ar an Acht Seirbhísí Sláinte (Forála Airgeadais), 1947.
72.—(1) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “an tAcht” an tAcht Seirbhísí Sláinte (Forála Airgeadais), 1947;
tá leis na habairtí “caiteachas caighdeánach”, “seirbhís sláinte” agus “glan-chaiteachas i leith sláinte” na bríonna atá leo san Acht.
(2) I gcás an tórainn idir líomatáistí feidhme dhá údarás sláinte d'athrú (pé acu roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo nó dá éis é) féadfaidh an tAire na suimeanna arb iad na caiteachais chaighdeánacha do na húdaráis iad a choigeartú—
(a) do réir pé méideanna is cuí leis i leith na bliana a tháinig an t-athrú i ngníomh, agus
(b) do réir pé méideanna is cuí leis i leith gach bliana ina dhiaidh sin,
agus, faoi réir aon choigeartuithe ina dhiaidh sin faoin alt seo nó faoi alt 3 den Acht, is iad na suimeanna a bheas coigeartaithe amhlaidh a bheas, i leith na mblianta lena mbainid, mar chaiteachas caighdeánach ag na húdaráis.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire, i leith bliana áirithe agus do chomhlucht áirithe, suim a shocrú arb í an caiteachas uasta í a féadfar a chur san áireamh i leith seirbhíse sláinte nó coda de sheirbhís sláinte nuair a bheas an glan-chaiteachas i leith sláinte ag an gcomhlucht sin i leith na bliana sin á ríomh.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire tráth ar bith, chun earráidí nó easnaimh a cheartú, deimhniú a leasú a thug sé faoin Acht maidir le glanchaiteachas i leith sláinte.
(5) Más rud é, maidir leis an Acht, go dtarlóidh, nó gur dóigh leis an Aire gur cosúil go dtarlóidh, aon amhras, díospóid nó ceist i dtaobh—
(a) ítim áirithe chaiteachais nó earnáil áirithe d'ítimí caiteachais a bheith nó gan bheith ina caiteachas caipitiúil, nó
(b) na bliana a bhfuil aon ítim chaiteachais nó aon fháltas le cur ina leith,
é an tAire a chinnfeas an t-amhras, an díospóid nó an cheist.
AN SCEIDEAL.
Achtacháin a hAthghairmtear.
Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAthghairme |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
An tAcht um Chúnamh Phoiblí, 1939. | Ailt 21, 22, 31 go 38, 40 go 51, 79, 81 agus 82. | |
Ailt 232, 233 agus 234. | ||
Ailt 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21 go 28 agus 41; | ||
Fo-ailt (4) agus (8) d'alt 44; | ||
Ailt 55, 67, 73 agus 101. |
Number 26 of 1953.
HEALTH ACT, 1953.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.
Section | |
INSTITUTIONS.
Transfer of officers on discontinuation of health institution. | |
HEALTH SERVICES.
MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS OF PRINCIPAL ACT.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Enactments Repealed.
Acts Referred to | |
No. 28 of 1947 | |
No. 27 of 1939 | |
No. 11 of 1952 | |
No. 17 of 1930 | |
No. 47 of 1947 | |
No. 23 of 1941 | |
No. 25 of 1952 | |
No. 25 of 1927 | |
No. 39 of 1926 | |
No. 19 of 1945 | |
No. 46 of 1947 | |
No. 4 of 1945 | |
Number 26 of 1953.
HEALTH ACT, 1953.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title and collective citation.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Health Act, 1953.
(2) The Principal Act and this Act may be cited together as the Health Acts, 1947 and 1953.
Commencement.
2.—Save as otherwise specifically provided thereby, this Act shall come into operation on such day or days as, by order or orders made by the Minister under this section, may be fixed therefor either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions.
Principal Act and construction of that Act and this Act.
3.—(1) In this Act “the Principal Act” means the Health Act, 1947 (No. 28 of 1947).
(2) The Principal Act and this Act shall be construed together as one Act.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) of this section, a reference in the Principal Act to that Act shall, save where the context otherwise requires, be construed as including a reference to this Act.
General saver.
4.—(1) Nothing in this Act or any instrument thereunder shall be construed as imposing an obligation on any person to avail himself or any service provided under this Act or to submit himself or any person for whom he is responsible to health examination or treatment.
(2) Any person who avails himself of any service provided under this Act shall not be under any obligation to submit himself or any person for whom he is responsible to a health examination or treatment which is contrary to the teaching of his religion.
Repeals.
5.—The enactments mentioned in the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the third column of that Schedule.
PART II.
Institutions.
Extension of meaning of “institution.”
6.—The definition of “institution” contained in subsection (1) of section 2 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion of “county home, home for persons suffering from physical or mental disability,” before “maternity home”.
District institutions and dispensaries.
7.—(1) Every district institution or dispensary which, immediately before the commencement of this section, was maintained by the council of a county or corporation of a county borough as a public assistance authority shall, on and after such commencement, be deemed to have been provided by such council or corporation under section 10 of the Principal Act.
(2) Where section 10 of the Principal Act applies to a board of assistance or board of public assistance by virtue of an order under section 45 or section 46 of this Act commencing on the commencement of this section, every district institution or dispensary which, immediately before the commencement of this section, was maintained by such board shall, on and after such commencement, be deemed to have been provided by such board under section 10 of the Principal Act.
(3) Where a district institution or dispensary is in course of erection by a public assistance authority immediately before the commencement of this section, such institution or dispensary shall be completed in like manner as if this Act had not been passed and, when it is completed, subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section (as may be appropriate) shall apply in relation thereto.
Conduct and management of health institution.
8.—(1) The Minister may make regulations, applicable to every health institution, every health institution of a particular class or a particular health institution, for the conduct and management of such institutions or institution.
(2) A health authority may, with the consent of the Minister, make rules for the conduct and management of a health institution maintained by them, for the regulation of persons admitted to the institution or attending there and for the regulation of admissions to the institution (including admissions on special terms as to payment and accommodation).
(3) Regulations made under section 34 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 (No. 27 of 1939), and in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall be deemed to be regulations made under this section.
(4) Rules made or deemed to be made under section 18 of the Principal Act and in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall be deemed to be rules made under this section.
Direction with respect to institutional services.
9.—The Minister may, by order made in respect of a specified health institution, direct—
(a) that institutional services shall be given in the institution to persons of a class specified by reference to their condition of health, or
(b) that institutional services shall not be given in the institution to persons of a class specified by reference to their condition of health,
and the health authority maintaining the institution shall comply with the direction.
Extern institutions.
10.—(1) A health authority may, with the consent of the Minister, make and carry out an arrangement for the giving of institutional services to any person or to persons of any class, being a person or persons who is or are entitled to receive institutional services from such authority otherwise than under section 26 of this Act, in an institution not managed by such authority or another health authority.
(2) Payments shall be made by the health authority for institutional services provided pursuant to an arrangement under subsection (1) of this section and the payments shall be in accordance with such scale as may be approved of or directed by the Minister.
(3) Two health authorities may make and carry out any arrangement for the giving of institutional services by one of them on behalf of and at the cost of the other.
(4) Any arrangement which was in force immediately before the commencement of this section and which could be made upon such commencement under this section shall be deemed to be an arrangement made under this section.
Transfer of officers on discontinuation of health institution.
11.—(1) Where a health institution is discontinued under subsection (1) or an order under subsection (2) of section 11 of the Principal Act and—
(a) a person who held an office under a health authority in the discontinued institution is offered a similar office in another health institution managed by that health authority or by a joint board some of whose members are appointed by that health authority, or
(b) a person who held an office under a joint board in the discontinued institution is offered a similar office in another health institution managed by that joint board or by one of the health authorities who appointed the members of that joint board,
the office held by the person in the discontinued institution shall, for the purposes of any enactment relating to superannuation, be deemed not to have been abolished.
(2) An officer aggrieved by an offer under section (1) of this section may appeal to the Minister in writing and the Minister may either refuse the appeal or give such direction (which shall be complied with by the health authority or joint board) as he considers just.
Religious Services.
12.—(1) A health authority shall make arrangements with the appropriate authorities for the due performance of religious services in each hospital, sanatorium, county home, home for persons suffering from physical or mental disability, maternity home, convalescent home and preventorium maintained by them.
(2) The amount of any payment made to a person by a health authority pursuant to this section shall be subject to the approval of the Minister.
Exemption from local inquiry.
13.—The holding of a local inquiry shall not be necessary in the case of an order under subsection (2) of section 10 or subsection (2) of section 11 of the Principal Act where the order relates to a dispensary, clinic, health centre, first-aid station or any similar institution.
PART III.
Health Services.
General medical services.
14.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, for the persons specified in subsection (2) of this section, and their dependants, a general practitioner medical and surgical service, medicines, ophthalmic, dental and aural treatment and medical, surgical and dental appliances.
(2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) of this section are persons who are unable to provide by their own industry or other lawful means the medical, surgical, ophthalmic, dental or aural treatment, or medicines, or medical, surgical or dental appliances necessary for themselves or their dependants.
Institutional and specialist services.
15.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available institutional and specialist services for the persons specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The persons referred to in subsection (1) of this section are the following persons and their dependants:
(a) persons insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952 (No. 11 of 1952),
(b) adult persons whose yearly means are less than six hundred pounds,
(c) adult persons whose yearly means are, in the opinion of the health authority, derived wholly or mainly from farming, the rateable valuation of the farm or farms (including the buildings thereon) being fifty pounds or less,
(d) persons not specified in the foregoing paragraphs who, in the opinion of the health authority, would be unable, without undue hardship, to provide institutional and specialist services for themselves or their dependants.
(3) Institutional services under subsection (1) of this section shall be made available without charge for the persons specified in subsection (2) of section 14 of this Act and to such other persons specified in subsection (2) of this section as may be determined by the health authority.
(4) Where institutional services are made available under subsection (1) of this section, in cases not governed by subsection (3) of this section, there shall be charged such charges, not exceeding six shillings for each day during which institutional services are availed of, as may be determined by the health authority, save in such cases (being cases of persons specified in paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of this section or dependants of such persons) as may be specified by regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance and, in those cases, there shall be charged the charges approved of or directed by the Minister towards the cost of the services.
(5) Specialist services under subsection (1) of this section shall be made available without charge.
(6) In paragraph (b) and paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of this section, the reference to yearly means includes, in addition to the yearly means of the person in question—
(a) the yearly means of the spouse (if any) of such person, where the spouse is resident with such person, and
(b) the yearly means of any unmarried son or daughter of
(i) such person, or
(ii) the spouse (if any) of such person, or
(iii) any deceased spouse of such person,
where the son or daughter is normally resident with such person.
(7) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, institutional and specialist services for pupils of national schools in respect of defects discovered at school health examinations.
(8) Yearly means shall be calculated for the purposes of this section in accordance with Rule 1 of the Rules contained in the Seventh Schedule to the Social Welfare Act, 1952.
(9) Where a decision taken in pursuance of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section is a decision that the yearly means of the adult person are not less than six hundred pounds, an appeal shall lie from the decision to a person appointed by the Minister, and regulations may make provision with respect to the making and determination of appeals under this subsection.
(10) For the purposes of this section, specialist services shall not include ophthalmic or aural services and services provided otherwise than in a hospital, convalescent home or home for persons suffering from physical or mental disability shall not be institutional services.
Medical care for mothers.
16.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, medical, surgical, midwifery, hospital and specialist services for attendance to the health of women (being women specified in subsection (2) of this section) in respect of motherhood.
(2) The women referred to in subsection (1) of this section are:
(a) women who are in, or who are dependants of persons in, any of the classes mentioned in subsection (2) of section 15 of this Act,
(b) women by or on behalf of whom such contributions as may be required by regulations have been made towards the cost of the services under this section.
(3) The regulations referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section—
(a) shall provide that contributions shall be at the rate of the appropriate amount for each year (not being a year before marriage) in respect of which a contribution is payable, and
(b) may require the making of different numbers of contributions in different circumstances, provided that advance payments of contributions (other than current contributions) shall not be required, and
(c) shall provide that, subject to the provisions pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection, the appropriate amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be one pound, and
(d) shall provide that the appropriate amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection shall, for each successive period of five years (the first of such periods being the period of five years beginning on the day after the expiration of three years from the commencement of this section or such later day as the Minister may determine to be the earliest practicable day for the beginning of the first of such periods), be—
(i) for persons other than persons who had paid a contribution in respect of the year immediately preceding such period, either—
(I) such amount as may be fixed by the Minister for that period as the amount which will result in obtaining by contributions approximately one-half of the estimated cost, as determined by the Minister, during such period of the provision of the services for women by or on behalf of whom contributions at the rate fixed under this clause of this subparagraph are paid, or
(II) two pounds,
whichever is the less, and
(ii) for persons who had paid a contribution in respect of the year immediately preceding such period, the amount payable by that person for that year or the amount fixed by the Minister as aforesaid, whichever is the less.
(4) Regulations shall provide that any woman entitled to receive medical services under this section may receive them from such registered medical practitioner who has entered into an agreement with the health authority for the provision of those services and who is willing to accept her as a patient as she may choose.
(5) Where a woman avails of services under this section for a confinement taking place otherwise than in a hospital or maternity home, the health authority shall make available, without charge, obstetrical requisites to such extent as may be specified by regulations.
Infant welfare services.
17.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, medical, surgical, hospital, specialist and nursing services for children up to the age of six weeks whose mothers are entitled to avail themselves of the services under section 16 of this Act.
(2) Regulations shall provide that medical services under this section shall be made available for a child by such registered medical practitioner who has entered into an agreement with the health authority for the provision of those services and who is willing to accept the child as a patient as the parent of the child may choose.
Child welfare services.
18.—A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, at clinics, health centres or similar institutions, medical, surgical and nursing services for children under the age of six years.
School health examination and treatment service.
19.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, without charge, a health examination and treatment service for the pupils attending schools to which this section applies.
(2) This section applies to every school which is—
(a) a national school or
(b) a school to which an order under subsection (3) of this section applies.
(3) Where a health authority are not satisfied that an adequate health examination service is available for the pupils attending a school in their functional area which provides elementary education and is not a national school, the health authority may by order direct that this section shall apply to the school.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising a health authority to provide any general domiciliary service or any services such as are mentioned in section 15 or section 20 of this Act.
Dental, ophthalmic and aural services, for children.
20.—A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment and dental, optical and aural appliances—
(a) for pupils of national schools, in respect of defects discovered at school health examinations, and
(b) for children under six years of age attending clinics, health centres or similar institutions, in respect of defects discovered at such clinics, centres or institutions,
and the treatment and appliances shall be made available without charge, save that where any dental, optical or aural appliance is supplied as a replacement and the health authority are not satisfied that the replacement has become necessary otherwise than as a result of negligence, such charge may be made for the appliance as may be approved of or directed by the Minister.
Dental, ophthalmic and aural services for middle income group.
21.—A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations, make available, either, as may be specified in the regulations, without charge or at charges approved of or directed by the Minister, dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment and dental, optical and aural appliances for the persons (including dependants) specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 15 of this Act (exclusive of the persons specified in sections 14 and 20 of this Act).
Regulations in relation to services.
22.—(1) The Minister may make regulations applicable to every health authority, every health authority of a particular class or a particular health authority as to the manner in which and the extent to which they are to make available the services specified in sections 14 to 21 of this Act and generally in relation to the administration of such services.
(2) References in sections 14 to 21 of this Act to regulations are to regulations under this section.
Maternity cash grants.
23.—(1) A health authority shall pay to a woman—
(a) who is entitled to the services made available by the health authority under section 14 of this Act, and
(b) whom it is not proposed to maintain in an institution after confinement (otherwise than for the purposes of medical or surgical treatment) by or at the expense of the health authority, and
(c) who fulfils the prescribed conditions,
a cash grant of four pounds in respect of each confinement.
(2) In this section “confinement” means labour resulting in the issue of a living child, or labour after twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy resulting in the issue of a child whether alive or dead.
(3) In deciding whether or not he shall make an order under the Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act, 1930 (No. 17 of 1930), for the payment of the expenses incidental to the birth of a child, the Justice shall not take into consideration the fact that the mother of the child is entitled to a cash grant under this section.
Milk for mothers and children.
24.—(1) A health authority may, subject to the prescribed conditions, make arrangements for the supply of milk to expectant and nursing mothers who are entitled to the services made available by the health authority under section 14 of this Act and to children to whom this section applies.
(2) In this section “children to whom this section applies” means children under five years of age whose parents are unable from their own resources to provide such children with an adequate supply of milk.
(3) The references in subsections (1) and (2) of this section to milk shall be construed as including references to such foods derived wholly or mainly from milk as may from time to time be approved of by the Minister.
Institutional services at choice of patient, etc.
25.—(1) A person entitled, having regard to regulations under section 22 of this Act, to avail himself of institutional services under section 15 or section 16 of this Act, or the parent of a child entitled, having regard to regulations under section 22 of this Act, to allow the child to avail of the services under section 15 or section 17 of this Act, may, if he so desires, in lieu of accepting services made available by the health authority, arrange for the like services being made available for him or for the child (as the case may be)—
(a) in any hospital approved of by the Minister for the purposes of this section, or
(b) in any nursing home or maternity home approved of by the Minister for the purposes of this section,
and where a person so arranges, the health authority shall, in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Minister, make, in respect of the services made available, a payment as provided for in this section.
(2) Where institutional services are made available in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section otherwise than in a private or semi-private ward in any institution (not being a health institution) with which the health authority have made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, the payment to be made by the health authority to the institution in respect of the institutional services shall be equivalent to the payment which would be made to the institution pursuant to the said arrangement, less a sum of six shillings for each day during which the services are availed of.
(3) Where institutional services are made available in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section, otherwise than in a private or semi-private ward in any institution (not being a health institution) with which the health authority have not made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, the payment to be made by the health authority to the institution in respect of the institutional services shall be equivalent to the payment normally made by the health authority for similar services made available in an institution (otherwise than in a private or semi-private ward) with which the health authority have made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, less a sum of six shillings for each day during which the services are availed of.
(4) Where institutional services are made available in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section in a private or semi-private ward in any institution (not being a health institution) with which the health authority have made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the payment to be made by the health authority to the institution in respect of the institutional services shall be equivalent to the payment which would be made to the institution in accordance with the said arrangement for services otherwise than in private or semi-private wards, less a sum of six shillings for each day during which the services are availed of,
(b) nothing in this Act or any regulations made thereunder shall be construed as restricting the amount of any charge which the institution may make on the person availing of the services.
(5) Where institutional services are made available in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section in a private or semi-private ward in any institution (not being a health institution) with which the health authority have not made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the payment to be made by the health authority to the institution in respect of the institutional services shall be equivalent to the payment normally made by the health authority for similar services made available (otherwise than in a private or semi-private ward) in an institution with which the health authority have made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, less a sum of six shillings for each day during which the services are availed of,
(b) nothing in this Act or any regulations made thereunder shall be construed as restricting the amount of any charge which the institution may make on the person availing of the services.
(6) Where institutional services are made available in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section in a nursing home or a maternity home, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) the payment to be made by the health authority to the home in respect of the institutional services shall be equivalent to the payment normally made by the health authority for similar services made available (otherwise than in a private or semi-private ward) in a hospital with which the health authority have made an arrangement under section 10 of this Act, less a sum of six shillings for each day during which the services are availed of, and unless the health authority otherwise determine, shall be limited to payment in respect of a period of six weeks in the case of a nursing home or two weeks in the case of a maternity home,
(b) nothing in this Act or any regulations made thereunder shall be construed as restricting the amount of any charge which the institution may make on the person availing of the services.
(7) Where institutional services are made available under section 15, section 16 or section 17 of this Act in a private or semi-private ward in a health institution on request made by or on behalf of the patient, there shall be charged therefor, in addition to any charge under subsection (4) of section 15 of this Act, a sum equivalent to the difference between—
(a) the charge approved of or directed by the Minister under section 26 of this Act for such services in a private or semi-private ward (as the case may be) in that institution, and
(b) the charge approved of or directed by the Minister under section 26 of this Act for such services in that institution otherwise than in a private or semi-private ward.
Institutional services for persons not entitled to services under section 15.
26.—(1) A health authority may make available institutional services for such persons as are not entitled to services under section 15 of this Act and they shall charge for any institutional services so made available the charges approved of or directed by the Minister.
(2) Except in cases of urgent necessity, institutional services (other than institutional services in special accommodation designated by the health authority with the consent of the Minister) shall not be provided under this section for a person unless there is accommodation available which, at the time of such person's admission, is not required for a person entitled to services under section 15 of this Act.
(3) A health authority may, with the consent of the Minister, make rules governing the provision of institutional services under this section and such rules may, in particular, contain provisions governing the making and amounts of payments to officers of the health authority in respect of any service or treatment given by them to persons who avail themselves of the institutional services.
(4) An officer of a health authority providing institutional services shall not demand or take from any person availing himself of such services (or from any other person on behalf of such person) any payment in respect of the services given to such person, not being a payment demanded or taken on behalf of the health authority, unless the taking of the payment by the officer is expressly authorised by rules made under this section or by the terms of his appointment.
(5) Regulations made under section 37 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, and in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall be deemed to be rules made under this section.
(6) Nothing in this section shall affect the operation of section 14 or sections 16 to 21 of this Act or of section 31 of the Principal Act or any regulations under that section.
Declaration as to means.
27.—For the purpose of determining whether a person is or is not entitled to any service provided by them under this Part of this Act, a health authority may require that person to make a declaration in such form as they consider appropriate in relation to his means and may take such steps as they think fit to verify the declaration.
Notification of change of circumstances.
28.—(1) Where a person is recorded for the purposes of this section by a health authority as entitled on account of specified circumstances to a service provided by the health authority under this Part of this Act, he shall notify the health authority of any change in those circumstances such as renders him no longer entitled to the service.
(2) Where a person knowingly contravenes subsection (1) of this section, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds.
Determination of doubt as to responsible health authority.
29.—The Minister shall decide, in any case of doubt or dispute with respect to a particular person or persons of a particular class, which health authority is to be responsible for the provision for such person or persons of such class (where appropriate) of any service under the Principal Act or this Act.
Charge where person not entitled obtains service.
30.—Where—
(a) a person has availed himself of a service provided under this Part of this Act, and
(b) it is ascertained that he was not entitled to the service,
the health authority may charge for the service the charge approved of or directed by the Minister.
Recovery of charges.
31.—Any charge which may be made by a health authority pursuant to this Part of this Act or the regulations thereunder may, in default of payment, be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction from—
(a) the person in respect of whom the charge is made or, in case such person has died, his legal personal representative, or
(b) any other person liable to maintain such person for the purposes of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, by virtue of section 27 of that Act or, in case such other person has died, his legal personal representative.
Affording of facilities for health examination of children at schools.
32.—(1) A health authority intending to arrange for a health examination of children at a school, under this Act, may give to the school manager of the school notice in writing of such intention stating the day or days (not being earlier than seven days after the giving of the notice) on which and the time at which the examination will be held and requiring the school manager to afford all reasonable facilities for the examination.
(2) A notice under subsection (1) of this section may be addressed to “the school manager” and may be given by delivering it to the school manager of the school to which it relates or by sending it by post to the address at which he ordinarily resides.
(3) A copy of every notice under subsection (1) of this section in respect of a health examination to be held in a school of which the school manager is not the principal teacher shall be either delivered to the principal teacher of such school or sent by post to such teacher at the school.
(4) The school manager of a school to which a notice given under subsection (1) of this section relates shall cause all reasonable facilities to be given for the holding of a health examination in accordance with the notice and on the day or days and at the time mentioned therein and, if he fails to do so, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
(5) Without prejudice to the foregoing subsections of this section, a health authority shall consult the school manager of a school before determining the day or days on which and the time at which a health examination of children in the school will be held and shall, so far as may be practicable, comply with the wishes of the school manager.
(6) An offence under this section may be prosecuted by the health authority who gave the relevant notice under this section.
False statements, etc.
33.—If any person, for the purpose of obtaining any service provided under this Part of this Act, whether for himself or some other person, or for any purpose connected with this Part of this Act—
(a) knowingly makes any false statement or false representation or knowingly conceals any material fact, or
(b) produces or furnishes, or causes or knowingly allows to be produced or furnished, any document or information which he knows to be false in a material particular,
he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
PART IV.
Miscellaneous Amendments of Principal Act.
Amendment of section 31 of Principal Act.
34.—Section 31 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the addition thereto of the following subsection:
“(10) Regulations under this section may, in particular, require the vaccination against smallpox of persons engaged in work at or about airports or seaports, and—
(a) the obligation to contain the provision referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of this section shall not apply as respects such regulations, and
(b) section 32 of this Act shall not apply in relation to such vaccination.”
Amendment of section 38 of Principal Act.
35.—An order made after the commencement of this section under subsection (1) of section 38 of the Principal Act shall have no effect unless, in addition to being signed by the chief medical officer, it is also signed by another registered medical practitioner.
Amendment of section 44 of Principal Act.
36.—(1) Section 44 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of “or a disease suspected to be an infectious disease by the chief medical officer of the health authority in whose functional area such person ordinarily resides” after “infectious disease”.
(2) Section 44 of the Principal Act shall be construed as authorising the making of a payment for domestic help where a married woman is undergoing treatment for an infectious disease to the satisfaction of the chief medical officer of the health authority in whose functional area she ordinarily resides and her husband is unable to make reasonable and proper provision for the care of the family.
(3) Sections 28 and 33 of this Act shall apply in relation to the service made available under section 44 of the Principal Act in like manner as they apply in relation to the services made available under Part III of this Act.
Amendment of section 48 of Principal Act.
37.—Subsection (1) of section 48 of the Principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution of the words “medical officer of health” for the words “district medical officer” in both places where the latter words occur, and
(b) by the substitution of the words “the area or district for which he acts” for the words “his district”.
Regulations under Part V of Principal Act.
38.—(1) Regulations under Part V of the Principal Act may provide for all or any of the following matters:
(a) the licensing or registration of—
(i) persons engaged in the manufacture, preparation, importation, storage, distribution or sale of food for human consumption,
(ii) premises, vehicles or stalls in or at which food is manufactured, prepared, stored, distributed or exposed for sale for human consumption,
(b) the description of premises, vehicles or stalls so licensed or registered,
(c) the prohibition of the manufacture, preparation, importation, storage, distribution, exposure for sale or sale of food otherwise than by licensed or registered persons or in or at licensed or registered premises, vehicles or stalls (as the case may be),
(d) the cancellation or suspension of licences or registrations,
(e) matters ancillary to the foregoing matters.
(2) Where regulations under Part V of the Principal Act include, by virtue of subsection (1) of this section, provision for the keeping of registers by health authorities—
(a) any register kept pursuant to the regulations by a health authority shall be deemed to be in proper custody when in the custody of an officer of the health authority authorised in that behalf by the health authority and shall be admissible in evidence without further proof, on production from the proper custody,
(b) prima facie evidence of any entry in any register kept pursuant to the regulations by a health authority may be given in any Court or any legal proceedings by the production of a copy of such entry purporting to be certified to be a true copy by an officer of the health authority authorised in that behalf, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of such officer, or that he was in fact such officer or was so authorised,
(c) a certificate purporting to be under the hand of an officer of a health authority authorised in that behalf that a specified person, premises, vehicle or stall was not, during a specified period, registered in a specified register kept pursuant to the regulations by the health authority shall be accepted in any Court or any legal proceedings as prima facie evidence of the facts so certified, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of such officer, or that he was in fact such officer or was so authorised.
(3) Regulations under Part V of the Principal Act may provide for functions to be performed for the purposes of the regulations by Justices of the District Court or Peace Commissioners, being functions relating to any of the following matters:
(a) the making of orders in relation to the destruction or other disposal of food which is diseased, contaminated or otherwise unfit for human consumption,
(b) the reviewing of orders prohibiting the importation or the removal from the place of importation of articles of food or animals or materials intended for use in the manufacture of food,
(c) the annulment or confirmation of orders relating to the cancellation or suspension of licences or registrations or the prohibition of the user of premises, stalls or vehicles for any specified purpose,
(d) the direction of health authorities to license or register persons, premises, vehicles or stalls in specified circumstances.
(4) Where any repairs, structural alterations or additions to premises are required by any authority enforcing regulations under Part V of the Principal Act to comply with those regulations—
(a) the repairs, structural alterations or additions may be carried out notwithstanding any covenant, agreement or condition in any lease or other contract of tenancy under which the premises are held,
(b) before the repairs, structural alterations or additions are carried out, the person required to carry them out shall—
(i) if he is not the rated occupier of the premises, inform the rated occupier, and
(ii) if he holds the premises under a lease or other contract of tenancy, inform the immediate landlord or his agent.
(5) In sections 56 and 57 of the Principal Act, the word “food” shall be construed, in addition to referring to any individual food, as referring to any class whatsoever of food.
(6) This section and the repeal by section 5 of this Act of section 55 of the Principal Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the day on which Part V of the Principal Act came into operation.
Amendment of section 65 of Principal Act.
39.—Section 65 of the Principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) by the deletion of the definition of “substance” in subsection (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:
“the word ‘substance’ means a natural or artificial substance, whether in solid or liquid form or in the form of a gas or vapour, including a preparation or manufactured article or article which has been subjected to any artificial treatment or process;”
(b) by the addition at the end of subsection (3) of the following paragraph—
“(j) the enforcement and execution of the regulations—
(i) by officers of the Minister,
(ii) by health authorities and their officers,
(iii) with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by officers of Customs and Excise,
(iv) with the consent of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, by officers of that Minister.”
(c) by the addition at the end of subsection (5) of the words “or by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.”.
Amendment of section 66 of Principal Act.
40.—Section 66 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the addition at the end of subsection (9) of the words “or by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.”.
Amendment of section 98 of Principal Act.
41.—Section 98 of the Principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) by the deletion in subsection (1) of the words “to give to the Minister when so required by him advice on matters affecting or incidental to the health of the people” and the substitution therefor of the words “to advise the Minister on such general matters affecting or incidental to the health of the people as may be referred to them by the Minister and on such other general matters (other than conditions of employment of officers and servants and the amount or payment of grants or allowances) relating to the operation of the health services as they think fit”;
(b) by the deletion in subsection (4) of the words “the National Health Council or of”;
(c) by the addition of the following subsections:—
“(7) Not less than half of the persons who are appointed to be members of the National Health Council shall be appointed by the Minister on nominations of bodies which, in the opinion of the Minister, are representative of the medical and ancillary professions (including particular branches thereof) and of persons concerned with the management of voluntary hospitals.
(8) The members of the National Health Council holding office on the 31st day of March, 1954, shall go out of office at the end of that day and the like provision shall have effect with respect to the 31st day of March in the year 1956 and in every second year thereafter.
(9) The National Health Council shall appoint one of their members to act as chairman of the Council.
(10) The quorum for a meeting of the National Health Council shall be one-third of the members, or, if the number of members is not divisible by three, one-third of the next higher number which is divisible by three.
(11) The National Health Council may, by standing orders or otherwise, regulate their own procedure.
(12) The National Health Council shall meet at least once in each quarter of the year.
(13) The National Health Council shall meet—
(i) at such times as they may be requested by the Minister to meet,
(ii) subject to subsection (14) of this section, at such times as may be determined by the Council, and
(iii) subject to subsection (14) of this section, upon a requisition to call a meeting of the Council, signed by a number of members not less than the quorum of the Council being presented to the secretary to the Council.
(14) Where three or more meetings of the National Health Council have been held in any quarter, a further meeting shall not be held in that quarter save at the request of, or with the consent of, the Minister.
(15) Every meeting of the National Health Council shall be held in private.
(16) The National Health Council may present each year to the Minister an annual report and the Minister shall publish the report with such comments (if any) as he thinks fit.
(17) The Minister shall request the advice of the National Health Council on any regulations which he proposes to make under the Health Acts, 1947 and 1953, or under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, except where he is satisfied that the making of the regulations is a matter of urgency and, in such a case, he shall request the advice of the Council on the regulations as soon as may be after they are made.
(18) The Minister shall appoint a person to act as secretary to the National Health Council.”
Amendment of section 103 of Principal Act.
42.—Section 103 of the Principal Act is hereby amended—
(a) by the substitution of “the Minister” for “the Minister for Local Government” in subsection (1), and
(b) by the addition to the section of the following subsection:
“(4) The amount standing at any particular time borrowed by a health authority under this section shall not exceed such sum as may be fixed in respect of that time for that health authority by an order made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Local Government.”
Amendment of section 104 of Principal Act.
43.—Subsection (2) of section 104 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion of “or other means of transport” before “provided”.
Prosecution of certain offences.
44.—An offence under Part V, Part VIII or Part IX of the Principal Act may be prosecuted by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.
PART V.
Miscellaneous.
Joint action by health authorities.
45.—(1) The Minister may by order provide for and authorise joint action by two or more health authorities in the performance of any of their functions either as respects the whole or part of their functional area.
(2) An order under this section may provide for the manner in which the expenses incurred in carrying out the joint action are to be met.
(3) An order under this section may provide for the establishment of a joint board for the purposes of the order.
(4) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to a joint board established by order under this section:
(a) the board shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession by the name given to them by the order,
(b) the board shall have power to sue and be sued in their corporate name,
(c) the board shall have power to hold and dispose of land,
(d) the board shall provide and have a common seal and such seal shall be authenticated by the signature of the chairman or some other member authorised to act in that behalf and the signature of an officer of the board authorised to act in that behalf,
(e) all courts of justice shall take judicial notice of the seal of the board and every document purporting to be an order or other instrument made by them and to be sealed with their seal (purporting to be authenticated in accordance with the foregoing paragraph) shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such order or instrument without further proof unless the contrary is shown,
(f) the board shall be a joint body within the meaning and for the purposes of the County Management Acts, 1940 and 1942,
(g) the board shall be a joint authority within the meaning and for the purposes of the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947 (No. 47 of 1947),
(h) the Minister may by order apply to the board any provisions of the Principal Act or this Act or of any regulations thereunder and may so apply such provisions with any specified modifications or limitations.
(5) An order under this section may provide for joint action being carried out by the Dublin Board of Assistance, the Board of Public Assistance for the South Cork Public Assistance District or the Board of Public Assistance for the Waterford Public Assistance
District and, for that purpose, may apply to such board any provisions of the Principal Act or this Act or of any regulations thereunder and may so apply such provisions with any specified modifications or limitations.
(6) An order under this section applying to a board the provisions of section 103 of the Principal Act shall not be made save with the consent of the Minister for Local Government.
(7) Where the provisions of section 103 of the Principal Act apply by virtue of an order under this section to a board, the amount standing at any particular time borrowed by the board under the Principal Act shall not exceed one-fourth of the total amount of the valuations appearing in the valuation lists in force at that time under the Valuation Acts in the functional areas of the health authorities liable to contribute to the expenses of the board.
(8) Where an order which was made under section 101 (repealed by this Act) of the Principal Act and which provided for a committee to act on behalf of two or more health authorities was in force immediately before the commencement of this section—
(a) the order shall continue in force and shall be deemed to have been made under subsection (1) of this section,
(b) the committee shall be deemed to be a joint board established by order under subsection (1) of this section by such name as may be specified by further order made by the Minister.
(9) The Minister may by order revoke any order made or deemed to be made under this section, and the revoking order shall contain such provisions as the Minister thinks necessary or expedient consequential on the revocation and, in particular, where the order to be revoked relates to a joint board, may make provision for—
(a) the dissolution of the joint board and the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities thereof to a health authority or to two or more health authorities or to another joint board or to two or more other joint boards,
(b) the preservation of continuing contracts made by the dissolved joint board,
(c) the continuance of pending legal proceedings,
(d) the transfer of the holder of any office under the dissolved joint board to a similar office under one of the health authorities who appointed the members of the dissolved joint board or under another joint board whose functional area is coterminous with, includes or is included in that of the dissolved joint board.
(10) Where, under an order under subsection (9) of this section, the holder of an office under a joint board is transferred to another office, the first-mentioned office shall, for the purpose of any enactment relating to superannuation, be deemed not to have been abolished.
Balrothery and Rathdown Boards of Assistance.
46.—(1) The Minister may by order authorise the Balrothery Board of Assistance or the Rathdown Board of Assistance to perform any functions of the council of the county of Dublin under the Principal Act or this Act and, for that purpose, may apply to such board any provisions of the Principal Act or this Act or of any regulations thereunder and may so apply such provisions with any specified modifications or limitations.
(2) An order under this section applying to a board the provisions of section 103 of the Principal Act shall not be made save with the consent of the Minister for Local Government.
(3) Where the provisions of section 103 of the Principal Act apply by virtue of an order under this section to a board, the amount standing at any particular time borrowed by the board under the Principal Act shall not exceed one-fourth of the total amount of the valuations appearing in the valuation lists in force at that time under the Valuation Acts in the functional area of the board.
Arrangements between health authorities and other authorities.
47.—(1) A health authority and an urban sanitary authority may, with the consent of the Minister and of the Minister for Local Government, make and carry out an arrangement for the provision by the urban sanitary authority of any service which the health authority are empowered by the Principal Act or this Act to provide.
(2) Where an arrangement is made under this section by a health authority and an urban sanitary authority, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government, by order apply in relation to the urban sanitary authority any provisions of the Principal Act or this Act or of any regulations thereunder which he considers necessary and may so apply such provisions with any specified modifications or limitations.
(3) A health authority and another health authority may make and carry out an arrangement for the performance of any of the functions of one of the authorities by the other.
(4) An arrangement under this section may include provisions for recoupment of expenses incurred by an authority in carrying out the arrangement.
Consultative health committees.
48.—(1) The council of a county (other than Dublin, Cork or Waterford) shall by resolution appoint a consultative health committee to advise the county manager on general matters (other than conditions of employment of officers and servants, the amount or payment of grants or allowances or the making of any service available to an individual) relating to the exercise of the functions of the council in relation to the operation of the Principal Act or this Act.
(2) An appointment under subsection (1) of this section shall be made by the council of a county as soon as conveniently may be—
(a) after the commencement of this section, and
(b) after each election of the members of the council.
(3) A consultative health committee shall consist of ten members, including—
(a) not less than four members of the council of the county,
(b) the county medical officer for the county,
(c) the county surgeon for the county or, if there is no such officer, a senior medical officer in a health institution maintained by the council of the county,
(d) two other registered medical practitioners residing in the county, each of whom is nominated by a body which, in the opinion of the council of the county, is representative of registered medical practitioners practising in the county.
(4) A consultative health committee shall meet—
(a) when requested to meet by resolution of the council of the county or by the county manager,
(b) subject to subsection (5) of this section, at such other times as the committee may determine, and
(c) subject to subsection (5) of this section, upon a requisition to call a meeting of the committee signed by not less than four members of the committee, being presented to the county manager.
(5) Where a meeting of a consultative health committee has been held in any month no further meeting shall be held in that month save at the request by resolution of the council of the county or at the request of or with the consent of the county manager.
(6) Every meeting of a consultative health committee shall be held in private.
(7) The foregoing subsections of this section shall apply to the Limerick City Council as if they were the council of a county, with the following modifications:—
(a) any reference to the county manager shall be construed as a reference to the Limerick City Manager,
(b) the reference in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) to the county medical officer shall be construed as a reference to the Limerick City Medical Officer.
(8) The Minister shall by regulations provide for the establishment of a consultative health committee for each of the following areas:—
(a) the county borough of Dublin and the county of Dublin,
(b) the county borough of Cork and the county of Cork, and
(c) the county borough of Waterford and the county of Waterford,
and any such regulations shall provide for the application to the committee of the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (6) of this section with any modifications which the Minister thinks fit.
Agreement for provision of service.
49.—A health authority, when making an agreement with any person for the provision by such person of any service which the health authority are authorised to provide, shall comply with any requirements specified by the Minister.
Rehabilitation and maintenance of disabled persons.
50.—(1) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations under subsection (2) of this section, make available a service for—
(a) the training of disabled persons for employment suitable to their condition of health, and
(b) the making of arrangements with employers for placing disabled persons in suitable employment,
and for the purpose of the training aforesaid may provide and maintain such premises, workshops, farms, gardens, materials, equipment and similar facilities as are necessary.
(2) The Minister may by regulations specify the manner in which and the extent to which a health authority are to make available the service referred to in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) In making available the service referred to in subsection (1) of this section so far as that service relates to the making of arrangements with employers for placing disabled persons in suitable employment, a health authority shall consult with such trade unions (if any) as appear to the health authority to be representative of persons employed in the relevant employments.
(4) A health authority may provide equipment, materials or similar articles for the persons specified in subsection (6) of this section.
(5) A health authority shall, in accordance with regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, provide for the payment of maintenance allowances to the persons specified in subsection (6) of this section.
(6) The persons referred to in subsections (4) and (5) of this section are disabled persons over sixteen years of age who are unable to provide for their own maintenance and whose relatives within the meaning of this subsection are unable to provide maintenance for them.
(7) Any spouse, son, daughter or parent of a person, or any brother or sister of a person normally resident with that person, shall be a relative of that person for the purposes of subsection (6) of this section.
Dispensary districts.
51.—(1) Every dispensary district under the Public Assistance Act, 1939, existing immediately before the commencement of this section shall be a dispensary district for the purposes of the Principal Act and this Act.
(2) The Minister may by order vary the division of the functional area of a health authority into dispensary districts.
(3) Where an order under subsection (2) of this section has been made, the Minister may by order provide for such transfers, within the functional area of the health authority, of officers whose districts have been affected by the first-mentioned order, as he considers necessary or expedient.
(4) Before making an order under subsection (3) of this section, the Minister shall send particulars of the transfers proposed to every officer proposed to be transferred and shall consider any representations which may be made by any such officer within such reasonable period as the Minister may determine.
(5) The office of an officer transferred by an order under subsection (3) of this section shall, for the purposes of any enactment relating to superannuation, be deemed not to have been abolished.
District medical officers.
52.—(1) There shall be a district medical officer or two or more district medical officers for a dispensary district.
(2) Save as provided by subsection (3) of this section, the office of a district medical officer shall be an office under the health authority for his district.
(3) An office of district medical officer for a dispensary district which is situated in the public assistance district of a board of assistance or a board of public assistance shall be an office under such board.
(4) An office of district medical officer to which subsection (3) of this section applies shall be deemed, for the purposes of sections 10 and 20 of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), to be an office under a health authority whose functional area includes the whole or any part of the district of such district medical officer.
(5) Where the whole or any part of a dispensary district is situated in an urban district, an office of district medical officer for such district shall, as respects assignment of duties relating to the functions of the urban sanitary authority for such urban district, be deemed for the purposes of sections 10 and 20 of the Local Government Act, 1941, to be an office under the urban sanitary authority for the urban district.
(6) Where, immediately before the commencement of this section, the Local Appointments Commissioners were engaged in the selection of a person or persons to be recommended for appointment to the office of medical officer of a dispensary district, such selection shall be completed in such manner as the said Commissioners shall think proper, and the person or one of the persons so selected and recommended by the Commissioners shall be appointed as district medical officer for the like district and the provisions of subsections (1) to (5) of this section shall apply in relation to him as if he had been so appointed before the commencement of this section.
(7) A reference in any enactment in force at the commencement of this section to the office of medical officer of a dispensary district or district medical officer or the holder thereof shall be construed as a reference to the office established by this section or the holder thereof (as the case may be).
(8) The following provisions shall apply in relation to a person who, as respects any district, held immediately before the commencement of this section in a permanent capacity the office of medical officer under section 41 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, and the office of medical officer of health under section 73 of the Principal Act:
(a) such person shall, upon the commencement of this section, become and be a district medical officer for that district;
(b) the first-mentioned offices shall, for the purposes of any enactment relating to superannuation, be deemed not to have been abolished.
Holders of certain offices under public assistance authorities.
53.—(1) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, where a person was, immediately before the commencement of this section, the holder in a permanent capacity of an office under a public assistance authority the duties of which related solely to medical assistance within the meaning of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, or to general assistance within the meaning of that Act given by way of admission to an institution, such person shall become and be the holder of the same office under the health authority whose functional area is coterminous with or includes the functional area of such public assistance authority.
(2) The said office under a public assistance authority shall, for the purposes of any enactment relating to superannuation, be deemed not to have been abolished.
(3) If any question arises as to whether the duties of a particular office under a public assistance authority related solely to medical assistance within the meaning of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, or to general assistance within the meaning of that Act given by way of admission to an institution, the question shall be decided by the Minister.
(4) This section shall not apply in relation to any person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, was the holder of—
(a) an office under a board of assistance or board of public assistance,
(b) an office of medical officer under section 41 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, or
(c) an office of medical officer of health under section 73 of the Principal Act.
(5) The holder of any office under a public assistance authority to which subsection (1) of this section does not apply shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him in relation to the functions of the health authority for the area or district for which he acts.
Shelter and maintenance in county home.
54.—(1) In this section “institutional assistance” means shelter and maintenance in a county home or similar institution.
(2) A person who is unable to provide shelter and maintenance for himself or his dependants shall, for the purposes of this section, be eligible for institutional assistance.
(3) It shall be the duty of a health authority, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this section and the regulations thereunder, to give to every person in their functional area who is eligible for institutional assistance such institutional assistance as appears to them to be necessary or proper in each particular case.
(4) The Minister may make regulations governing the giving of institutional assistance and such regulations may, in particular, provide for requiring persons to contribute in specified cases towards the cost of providing them with institutional assistance.
(5) Every person maintained by a health authority in a county home or similar institution who behaves in a disorderly manner in such home or institution, or causes unreasonable disturbance to other persons maintained in such home or institution or to persons employed therein, shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty-one days.
(6) Where the Minister directs by order that a specified class of persons shall not be sheltered or maintained under this section by or on behalf of a health authority in a specified institution, the authority shall not (except in cases of urgent necessity) shelter or maintain, or arrange for the shelter or maintenance of, any persons of that class in that institution.
(7) (a) Where a person maintained by a health authority in a county home or similar institution does work on behalf of the authority, he shall be deemed, in relation to the doing of the work, to be for the purposes of the Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1934 to 1953, a workman in the employment of the authority, but, save as aforesaid, the doing of the work by such person shall not operate to create or imply the relation of master and servant or a contract of service between the authority and such person.
(b) In any proceedings under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1934 to 1953, brought by virtue of paragraph (a) of this subsection, the applicant shall be deemed to have worked for remuneration and the amount of the remuneration shall be estimated by the Court by reference to the value of the work.
Boarding out etc., of children.
55.—(1) A health authority may provide, in accordance with regulations, for the assistance of a child to whom this subsection applies in any of the following ways (whether in or outside their functional area), that is to say, by boarding the child out, or by sending him to a school approved of by the Minister, or, where the child is not less than fourteen years of age, by arranging for his employment or by placing him in any suitable trade, calling, or business.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to any child who is eligible for institutional assistance under section 54 of this Act and who is—
(a) a legitimate child whose father and mother are dead or who is deserted by his father and mother or (where one of them is dead) by the survivor, or
(b) an illegitimate child whose mother is dead or who is deserted by his mother.
(3) A health authority may, with the approval of the Minister, assist any person eligible for general assistance within the meaning of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, by doing, with the consent of such person and in accordance with regulations, any of the following things in respect of any child whom such person is liable under the Public Assistance Act, 1939, to maintain, that is to say, boarding the child out, or sending him to a school approved of by the Minister or, where the child is not less than fourteen years of age, placing him in any suitable trade, calling, or business.
(4) Where a health authority places under this section a child in a suitable trade, calling, or business, the authority may pay such fee or sum as may be requisite for that purpose and may support or contribute to the support of the child during any period (including, with the consent of the Minister, a period after attaining the age of sixteen years) during which he is engaged in learning the trade, calling, or business.
(5) Where a child boarded out or sent to a school pursuant to this section attains the age of sixteen years, the health authority may, with the consent of the Minister, arrange for the completion of the child's education and for his maintenance while completing his education.
(6) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section.
(7) A child who, immediately before the commencement of this section, stood boarded out, sent to a school, placed at service or placed in a trade, calling, or business under section 48 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, shall be deemed (as may be appropriate) to be boarded out, sent to a school, placed in employment or placed in a trade, calling, or business by the appropriate health authority under this section.
(8) A school in respect of which, immediately before the commencement of this section, a certificate under section 47 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, was in force shall be deemed for the purposes of this section to be a school approved of by the Minister.
(9) Where a child becomes adopted under the Adoption Act, 1952 (No. 25 of 1952)—
(a) the child shall thereafter be treated for the purposes of this section as if he were the child of the adopter or adopters born to him, her or them in lawful wedlock and were not the child of any other person,
(b) if there is one adopter only, a reference to the father or mother shall, where appropriate, be substituted in subsection (2) of this section for any reference to the father and mother,
(c) where the child was, immediately before the adoption, boarded out by a health authority with the adopter or adopters, the health authority may, subject to such conditions as they think fit, contribute to the maintenance of the child as if he continued to be boarded out.
Removal of child boarded out, etc.
56.—(1) Where a health authority have boarded out a child, arranged for the employment of a child or placed a child in a trade, calling, or business, the authority, at any time before the child has attained the age of sixteen years, may, with the consent of the Minister, and shall, if so required by the Minister, remove the child from the custody of the person with whom he was so boarded out, employed, or placed in a trade, calling, or business.
(2) Where a health authority have sent a child to a school approved of by the Minister, the authority—
(a) may at any time, with the consent of the Minister, remove the child from the school, and
(b) shall remove the child from the school if and when required so to do by the Minister or by the managers of the school, or upon the school ceasing to be approved of by the Minister.
(3) Where a child is removed by a health authority from the custody of a person with whom the child has been boarded out, employed or placed in a trade, calling, or business, any contract between the authority and such person in respect of the child shall terminate immediately upon the removal.
(4) Where a health authority are empowered or required by or under this section to remove a child from the custody of a person, such person shall deliver up the custody of the child to the authority on demand and, if such person wilfully refuses or neglects so to deliver up such custody, he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
(5) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (4) of this section, the Court shall make an order for the removal of the child from his custody to the custody of the health authority.
Local authority for purposes of Part I of Children Act, 1908.
57.—Public assistance authorities shall, on the commencement of this section, cease to be local authorities for the purposes of Part I of the Children Act, 1908, and, in lieu thereof, each health authority shall, on and after such commencement, be the local authority for those purposes in respect of their functional area.
Regulations as to filling materials.
58.—(1) The Minister may make regulations—
(a) prescribing a standard of cleanliness for filling material either generally or as respects a particular type of filling material,
(b) prohibiting the sale or keeping for sale, or use or keeping for use for the purpose of making bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys or similar articles, of filling material which does not conform with the prescribed standard,
(c) prohibiting the sale or keeping for sale of any bedding, cushion, article of upholstery, toy or similar article containing filling material which does not conform with the prescribed standard.
(2) Regulations under this section—
(a) may provide for the enforcement and execution of the regulations by officers of the Minister, by health authorities and their officers and, with the consent of the Minister for Local Government, by officers of sanitary authorities,
(b) may provide for the empowering of specified persons (being authorised officers for the purpose of Part IX of the Principal Act) to seize and remove, and to detain and destroy or have otherwise suitably disposed of, filling material which does not conform with the prescribed standard,
(c) may provide for the giving and taking (without payment) of samples and the carrying out of tests, examinations and analyses of such samples,
(d) may prescribe the classes of persons to be responsible for the carrying out of tests, examinations and analyses of samples of filling material and the means by and the manner in which any such test, examination or analysis is to be made,
(e) may prescribe the certificate or other evidence to be given of the result of any such test, examination or analysis and the classes of persons by and to whom any such certificate or evidence is to be given,
(f) may provide that any certificate or other evidence prescribed under paragraph (e) of this subsection and given in respect of the test, examination or analysis of a sample shall as respects that sample be evidence for all purposes of the result of the test, examination or analysis,
(g) may provide for the licensing or registration of premises in which filling material is kept for sale or for use for the purpose of making bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys or similar articles and for the prohibition of the keeping for sale or for the said use of filling material in premises which are not licensed or registered,
(h) may provide for conditions governing the grant, retention or renewal of licences or registrations,
(i) may provide for the imposition of charges in respect of the grant, retention or renewal of licences or registrations,
(j) may provide for the marking or labelling in a specified manner of bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys or similar articles containing filling material,
(k) may provide for the keeping of records by persons engaged in the manufacture, preparation, importation, storage, distribution or sale of filling material or bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys or similar articles containing filling material and for the production of such records for inspection by officers concerned in the enforcement or execution of the regulations.
(3) Where regulations made under subsection (1) of this section provide that any particular certificate or other evidence shall be evidence for all purposes of the result of a test, examination or analysis of a sample, such certificate or other evidence shall, as respects that sample, be accepted by all Courts of Justice as evidence of the result of such test, examination or analysis and shall also be accepted by all Courts of Justice as evidence that such test, examination or analysis was carried out under and in accordance with the regulations.
(4) Where a person is charged with having, in contravention of regulations made under this section, kept for sale any filling material or any bedding, cushion, article of upholstery, toy or similar article and it is shown that the material or article was in the possession of such person, the material or article shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been kept by him for sale.
(5) Where a person is charged with having, in contravention of regulations made under this section, kept any filling material for use for the purpose of making bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys or similar articles and it is shown that the material was in the possession of such person, the material shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been kept by him for that use.
(6) If the defendant in any prosecution for an offence under this section proves—
(a) that he purchased—
(i) filling material as of a standard of cleanliness which would not have contravened any regulation under this section, or
(ii) an article as containing only filling material of such a standard and with a written warranty to that effect, and
(b) that he had no reason to believe at the time when he committed the offence with which he is charged that the filling material did not conform with the prescribed standard of cleanliness, and
(c) that at the said time the filling material was in the same state as when he purchased it,
the defendant shall be discharged from the prosecution, but shall be liable to pay the costs incurred by the prosecutor unless he gave due notice to the prosecutor that he proposed to rely on the said defence.
(7) A statement by the manufacturer, importer or seller of any filling material or any bedding, cushion, article of upholstery, toy or similar article containing filling material which is a statement as to the standard of cleanliness of the filling material and which is in an invoice or on a label attached to the filling material or article or on the container in which the filling material is sold shall be deemed for the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of this section to be a warranty.
(8) Where it appears to the authority or officer enforcing regulations made under this section that an offence has been committed in respect of which proceedings might be taken under this section against some person but that such person could establish a defence under subsection (6) of this section by proving that the offence complained of was due to an act or default of some other person, such authority or officer may take proceedings against that other person without taking proceedings against the first-mentioned person.
(9) A person who contravenes a regulation under this section or who wilfully obstructs the execution of a regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(10) An offence under this section may be prosecuted by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.
(11) In this section, the expression “filling material” includes—
(a) rag flock which is produced wholly or in part by tearing up woven, knitted, felted or spun material or other like articles whether new or old, and
(b) hair, fibre, down, feathers, wood shavings, sawdust, straw, and other similar materials, whether new or old, used in the making of bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys, or similar articles, and
(c) linings, webbings and coverings (other than outer coverings) used in the making of bedding, cushions, articles of upholstery, toys or similar articles.
Control of use, etc., of radio-active substances and irradiating apparatus.
59.—(1) In this section—
the word “substance” means a natural or artificial substance, whether in solid or liquid form or in the form of a gas or vapour, including a preparation or manufactured article or article which has been subjected to any artificial treatment or process;
the expression “radio-active substance” means a substance which consists of or contains any radio-active chemical element, whether natural or artificial;
the expression “medical radio-active substance” means a radio-active substance which may be used as a prophylactic, diagnostic or therapeutic agent in the prevention or treatment of any human ailment, infirmity, injury or defect;
the expression “medical irradiating apparatus” means irradiating apparatus which may be used as a prophylactic, diagnostic or therapeutic agent in the prevention or treatment of any human ailment, infirmity, injury or defect.
(2) The Minister may make regulations for the control of the storage, use, exportation or other disposal of medical radio-active substances generally or of any particular medical radio-active substance.
(3) The Minister may make regulations for the control of the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offering or keeping for sale, use, exportation or other disposal of medical irradiating apparatus generally or of any specified class of such apparatus.
(4) The Minister may make regulations for—
(a) the prevention of danger to the health of persons occupied in the use of radio-active substances or irradiating apparatus and of other persons whose health may be endangered by such use,
(b) ensuring the safe disposal of radio-active waste products resulting from the use of radio-active substances or irradiating apparatus.
(5) Regulations under this section may, in particular, make provision for all or any of the following matters:
(a) the enforcement and execution of the regulations—
(i) by officers of the Minister,
(ii) by health authorities and their officers,
(iii) with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by officers of Customs and Excise,
(iv) with the consent of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, by officers of that Minister,
(v) with the consent of the Minister for Agriculture, by officers of that Minister,
(b) the prohibition of the storage, use, exportation or other disposal of medical radio-active substances either absolutely or save subject to specified conditions (including the grant of a licence for such storage, use, exportation or other disposal),
(c) the prohibition of the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offering or keeping for sale, use, exportation or other disposal of irradiating apparatus either absolutely or save subject to specified conditions (including the grant of a licence for such manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, offering or keeping for sale, use, exportation or other disposal),
(d) the determination of the classes of persons to whom licences under the regulations are to be granted,
(e) the prescribing of conditions governing the grant, retention or renewal of licences under the regulations,
(f) the refusal or revocation of licences under the regulations,
(g) the giving and the taking, with or without payment (as the regulations may provide), of samples of radio-active substances,
(h) the imposition of charges (whether fixed, variable or partly fixed and partly variable) in respect of the grant, retention or renewal of licences under the regulations.
(6) Regulations under this section shall not prohibit absolutely the use by a registered medical practitioner in medical practice or by a registered dentist in dental practice of any radio-active substance or any irradiating apparatus, or require a registered medical practitioner or registered dentist to hold a licence for the use of radio-active substances or irradiating apparatus in medical practice or dental practice, as the case may be, or for the storage of such quantities of radio-active substances as may be reasonably required for his practice.
(7) A person who contravenes a regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding five hundred pounds and to forfeiture of any substance or apparatus in relation to which the offence was committed.
(8) An offence under this section may be prosecuted by the Minister or by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.
Prohibition or control of use of certain verminicides.
60.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for the prohibition or control of the use in the destruction of animals of substances containing live cultures of organisms pathogenic to man.
(2) Regulations under this section may, in particular, make provision for all or any of the following matters:
(a) the enforcement and execution of the regulations—
(i) by officers of the Minister,
(ii) by health authorities and their officers,
(b) the prohibition of the use in the destruction of animals of substances containing live cultures of organisms pathogenic to man save subject to specified conditions (including the grant of a licence for such use),
(c) the determination of the classes of persons to whom licences under the regulations are to be granted,
(d) the prescribing of conditions governing the grant, retention and renewal of licences under the regulations,
(e) the refusal or revocation of licences under the regulations,
(f) the imposition of charges in respect of the grant, retention or renewal of licences under the regulations.
(3) A person who contravenes a regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.
(4) An offence under this section may be prosecuted by the Minister or by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.
Control of use of fumigants.
61.—(1) The Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, may by order declare, as respects a specified fumigant, that—
(a) all uses of the fumigant shall be restricted, or
(b) the use of the fumigant for a specified purpose or in specified circumstances shall be restricted.
(2) Where an order under this section declares that all uses of a fumigant shall be restricted, a person shall not use the fumigant save with the permission of the chief medical officer for the area in which the fumigant is used and in accordance with any directions which the officer may give for the purpose of safeguarding public health.
(3) Where an order under this section declares that the use of a fumigant for a specified purpose or in specified circumstances shall be restricted, a person shall not use the fumigant for that purpose or in those circumstances (as the case may be) save with the permission of the chief medical officer for the area in which the fumigant is used and in accordance with any directions which the officer may give for the purpose of safeguarding public health.
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (2) or subsection (3) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.
(5) An offence under this section may be prosecuted by the health authority in whose functional area the offence is committed.
Facilities for teaching of clinical medicine or conduct of medical research.
62.—(1) Where a college which awards any of the qualifying diplomas mentioned in the Second Schedule to the Medical Practitioners Act, 1927 (No. 25 of 1927), or a college of a university which awards any such diploma, requires facilities for the teaching of clinical medicine or for the conduct of medical research in a health institution—
(a) the Minister, if he so thinks proper, may by order declare the institution to be a teaching institution,
(b) on the institution being declared to be a teaching institution—
(i) it shall be the duty of the health authority by whom the institution is maintained to provide in the institution such facilities for the teaching of clinical medicine or for the conduct of medical research as the Minister may direct from time to time,
(ii) in relation to the making of any appointment to the staff of the institution which is considered by the Minister to carry with it duties involving the teaching of clinical medicine or the conduct of medical research under the direction of one or more than one such college, any board constituted by the Local Appointments Commissioners in accordance with section 9 of the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926 (No. 39 of 1926), to interview candidates shall consist of a chairman nominated by the Minister and a number of other members, half of whom shall be nominated by such college or colleges.
(2) In this section “medicine” shall be construed as including surgery and midwifery, and “medical” shall be construed accordingly.
Courses of instruction for medical officers.
63.—(1) In this section, the expression “medical officer” means an officer of a health authority whose office is an office the holder of which is required to be a registered medical practitioner.
(2) A health authority, with the approval of the Minister, may do all things necessary to provide from time to time courses of instruction for medical officers (including medical officers of other authorities).
(3) Where a health authority provide a course of instruction under this section, they may, at their discretion, permit registered medical practitioners who are not medical officers to attend at such course.
(4) The Minister shall notify the Medical Registration Council of courses of instruction approved under this section.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing an obligation on a medical officer to attend at a course of instruction provided under this section.
Schools for training of nurses.
64.—(1) In this section—
the expression “nursing school” means a school for the training of persons to be nurses;
the expression “student nurse” means a person being trained to be a nurse.
(2) A health authority may, with the consent of the Minister, and shall, if the Minister so directs, provide and maintain a nursing school in connection with a health institution maintained by them and may, subject to such conditions as they think fit, admit persons to such school as student nurses.
(3) A health authority who maintain a nursing school under this section may, with the consent of the Minister, pay remuneration to a student nurse of the school.
Assistance for certain bodies.
65.—(1) A health authority may, with the approval of the Minister, give assistance in any one or more of the following ways to any body which provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service which the health authority may provide:
(a) by contributing to the expenses incurred by the body,
(b) by supplying to the body fuel, light, food, water or other commodity,
(c) by permitting the use by the body of premises maintained by the health authority and, where requisite, executing alterations and repairs to and supplying furniture and fittings for such premises,
(d) by providing premises (with all requisite furniture and fittings) for use by the body.
(2) A health authority may, with the approval of the Minister, contribute to the funds of any society for the prevention of cruelty to children.
Dispensary residences under Public Assistance Act, 1939.
66.—(1) Every residence which, immediately before the commencement of this section, was maintained under section 43 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, by the council of a county or corporation of a county borough as a public assistance authority shall, on and after such commencement, be deemed to have been provided by such council or corporation under section 105 of the Principal Act.
(2) Where section 105 of the Principal Act applies to a board of assistance or board of public assistance by virtue of an order under section 45 or section 46 of this Act commencing on the commencement of this section, every residence which, immediately before the commencement of this section, was maintained under section 43 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, by such board shall, on and after such commencement, be deemed to have been provided by such board under section 105 of the Principal Act.
(3) Where a residence is in course of erection under section 43 of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, by a public assistance authority immediately before the commencement of this section, such residence shall be completed in like manner as if this Act had not been passed and, when it is completed, subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section (as may be appropriate) shall apply in relation thereto.
Apportionment of expenditure on central health service.
67.—(1) In this section “central health service” means a service provided in accordance with law by a Minister of State for the benefit of two or more authorities to whom this section applies.
(2) Where expenditure is incurred by the Minister or any other Minister of State on the provision of any central health service, the Minister may by order apportion the whole or part of the expenditure among the authorities concerned in such manner as he thinks reasonable.
(3) An authority to whom this section applies shall pay to the Minister any amount apportioned to them by an order under this section and such amount shall thereupon be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister for Finance.
(4) Where a health authority fail to pay an amount apportioned to them by an order under this section, the amount may be deducted by the Minister from any sum payable to them under the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947.
(5) Each of the following authorities shall be an authority to whom this section applies:
(a) a health authority,
(b) a mental hospital authority under the Mental Treatment Act, 1945 (No. 19 of 1945).
Inspection of provisions and water for crew of Irish ships.
68.—(1) An authorised officer may, as respects an Irish ship, carry out any inspection under section 206 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, or section 26 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, in like manner and with the like powers as if he had been duly appointed under the said section 206.
(2) Any offence which is to be prosecuted consequent on an inspection carried out in pursuance of this section by an authorised officer may be prosecuted by the health authority.
(3) In this section—
“Irish ship” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1947 (No. 46 of 1947);
“authorised officer” means an officer of a health authority appointed in writing by the manager therefor to be an authorised officer for the purposes of this section.
Restriction of application of Public Assistance Act, 1939.
69.—The Public Assistance Act, 1939, shall cease to have effect as respects the provision of—
(a) medical assistance as defined therein, and
(b) general assistance as defined therein given by way of admission to an institution,
and the said Act shall be construed accordingly.
Amendment of Tuberculosis (Establishment of Sanatoria) Act, 1945.
70.—(1) In this section “the Act” means the Tuberculosis (Establishment of Sanatoria) Act, 1945 (No. 4 of 1945).
(2) Section 6 of the Act is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (2) of the following subsection:
“(2a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, when the establishment under this Act of a sanatorium has, in the opinion of the Minister, been completed, the Minister, if he so thinks proper, may transfer his estate or interest in the land on which the sanatorium has been established and the equipment of the sanatorium to a joint board established by an order under section 45 of the Health Act, 1953, and, in the case of any such transfer, subsection (2) of this section shall have effect with the substitution of ‘joint board’ for ‘county authority or county authorities’”.
(3) The following section shall be added to the Act after section 17:
Disposal of surplus land.
“18. (1) Where the Minister has acquired land under this Part of this Act and, as respects such land or any part thereof—
(a) the Minister has not transferred his estate or interest therein under subsection (2) or subsection (2a) of section 6 of this Act, and
(b) it appears to the Minister that such land or part is no longer required for the purposes of the establishment of a sanatorium,
the Minister may dispose of such land or part in such manner as he thinks proper.
(2) All moneys received by the Minister in respect of the disposal of land under this section shall be paid by the Minister to the Hospitals Trust Board and shall form part of the Hospitals Trust Fund.”
Amendment of Mental Treatment Act, 1945.
71.—(1) In this section “the Act” means the Mental Treatment Act, 1945.
(2) Section 19 of the Act (which specifies the general duty of mental hospital authorities to provide treatment, maintenance, advice and services) is hereby amended by the substitution for paragraph (c) of the following paragraph:
“(c) such person is in, or is a dependant of a person in, any of the classes mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, or such person (with the persons, if any, liable to maintain him) would, in the opinion of the mental hospital authority for such mental hospital district, be unable without undue hardship to provide the whole of the cost of such treatment, maintenance, advice or service,”
(3) The following definition shall be substituted in section 3 of the Act for the definition of “chargeable patient”:
“the expression ‘chargeable patient’ means a patient who is receiving mental hospital assistance and who is in, or is a dependant of a person in, any of the classes menitoned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, or who (with the persons, if any, liable to maintain him) is, in the opinion of the mental hospital authority, unable without undue hardship to provide the whole of the cost of such assistance;”
(4) For subsection (2) of section 170, subsection (2) of section 187 and subsection (2) of section 193 of the Act, there shall be substituted in each case the following subsection:
“(2) Expenses defrayed under this section shall be payable by the mental hospital authority and shall be regarded as part of the cost of mental hospital assistance for the person in respect of whom they have been incurred.”
(5) In paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 175 of the Act, “mental hospital authority” shall be substituted for “public assistance authority” and “mental hospital district” for “public assistance district.”
(6) For subsection (2) of section 175 of the Act, there shall be substituted the following subsection:
“(2) Expenses repaid under this section by a mental hospital authority shall be regarded as part of the cost of mental hospital assistance for the person in respect of whom they have been incurred.”
(7) In section 224 of the Act “institutional assistance under section 54 of the Health Act, 1953,” shall be substituted for “general assistance under the Public Assistance Act, 1939 (No. 27 of 1939),” and “an institution in which institutional assistance is provided by the health authority in whose functional area he ordinarily” for “the appropriate district institution of the public assistance district in which he”.
(8) The following section shall be inserted in the Act after section 231:
Charges in certain cases and recovery thereof.
“231A.—(1) Where a person has received mental hospital assistance and it is ascertained that he was not a chargeable patient, the mental hospital authority may charge for the assistance the charge approved of or directed by the Minister.
(2) Mental hospital assistance shall be given without charge to the persons specified in subsection (2) of section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, and to such other persons, being chargeable patients, as may be determined by the mental hospital authority.
(3) Where mental hospital assistance is given to chargeable patients in cases not governed by subsection (2) of this section, there shall be charged such charges, not exceeding six shillings for each day during which mental hospital assistance is given, as may be determined by the mental hospital authority, save in such cases (not being cases of persons in any of the classes mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, or dependants of such persons) as may be specified by regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance and, in those cases, there shall be charged the charges approved of or directed by the Minister towards the cost of the mental hospital assistance.
(4) Any charge under this section may, in default of payment, be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction from—
(a) the person in respect of whom the charge is made or, in case such person has died, his legal personal representative, or
(b) any other person liable to maintain such person or, in case such other person has died, his legal personal representative.”
(9) In subsection (1) of section 274 of the Act “mental hospital authority” shall be substituted for “public assistance authority” and “mental hospital district” for “public assistance district”.
(10) For subsection (2) of section 274 of the Act there shall be substituted the following subsection:
“(2) A fee paid under this section shall be regarded as part of the cost of mental hospital assistance for the person examined.”
(11) The following section shall be inserted in the Act after section 279:
Appeals from certain decisions.
“279A.—Where a decision taken in pursuance of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, as applied by this Act, is a decision that the yearly means of the adult person are not less than six hundred pounds, an appeal shall lie from the decision to a person appointed by the Minister, and regulations made by the Minister may make provision with respect to the making and determination of appeals under this section.”
Amendment of Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947.
72.—(1) In this section—
“the Act” means the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947;
“standard expenditure”, “health service” and “net health expenditure” have the same meanings as in the Act.
(2) Where the boundary between the functional areas of two health authorities has been altered (whether before or after the commencement of this section), the Minister may adjust the sums which are the standard expenditures for the authorities—
(a) by such amounts as he considers proper in respect of the year in which the alteration has become operative, and
(b) by such amounts as he considers proper in respect of each subsequent year,
and the sums so adjusted shall, subject to any subsequent adjustment under this section or under section 3 of the Act become and be, in respect of the years to which they relate, the standard expenditures for the authorities.
(3) The Minister may, in respect of a particular year and for a particular body, fix a sum which shall be the maximum expenditure which may be included in respect of a health service or part of a health service in the calculation of the net health expenditure of that body in respect of that year.
(4) The Minister, to correct errors or omissions, may at any time amend a certificate of net health expenditure given by him under the Act.
(5) Where, with reference to the Act, any doubt, dispute or question arises, or, in the opinion of the Minister, is likely to arise as to—
(a) whether a particular item of expenditure or class of items of expenditure is or is not capital expenditure, or
(b) the year to which any item of expenditure or any receipt is to be attributed,
the doubt, dispute or question shall be decided by the Minister.
SCHEDULE.
Enactments Repealed.
Number and Year | Short title | Extent of Repeal |
(1) | (2) | (3) |
No. 27 of 1939. | ||
No. 19 of 1945. | Sections 232, 233 and 234. | |
No. 28 of 1947. | ||
Subsections (4) and (8) of section 44; | ||
Sections 55, 67, 73 and 101. |