Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1966

What is this act about?

This law amends previous Health and Mental Treatment Acts, specifically updating financial thresholds related to health services and mental treatment. It adjusts certain monetary limits and clarifies how yearly means are calculated for eligibility.

Who it applies to: Individuals whose eligibility for health services is determined by yearly means; Spouses of such individuals, if resident with them.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Health and pharmaceutical law
Articles: 3
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Amendments to Section 15 of the Health Act, 1953.
Amendments to Section 279A of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945.
The calculation of yearly means for individuals and their spouses.
The collective citation of Health Acts and Mental Treatment Acts.

Who does this act apply to?

Individuals whose eligibility for health services is determined by yearly means.
Spouses of such individuals, if resident with them.

What are the key points?

The amount of "one thousand two hundred pounds" replaces "eight hundred pounds" in certain provisions of the Health Act, 1953.
The amount of "sixty pounds" replaces "fifty pounds" in a specific paragraph of the Health Act, 1953.
Yearly means now include the yearly means of a spouse if they reside with the person in question.
The Act comes into operation on a day appointed by the Minister for Health.

Health and pharmaceutical law

Mental Treatment Act, 1953

Children's Health Act 2018

Local Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1936

Mental Health Act 20266

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022

Agricultural Produce (Meat) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1954

Chemicals (Amendment) Act 2010

Health Act 2004

Health and pharmaceutical law

Legal text

Contents (3)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3

Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1966 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1966 Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1966 Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1966 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 2 of 1966.

HEALTH AND MENTAL TREATMENT (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1966.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Amendment of section 15 of Health Act, 1953.

Section 2

Amendment of section 279A of Mental Treatment Act, 1945.

Section 3

Short title, collective citations and commencement.

Acts Referred to Health Act, 1953 1953, No. 26 Mental Treatment Act, 1945 1945, No. 19 Number 2 of 1966.

HEALTH AND MENTAL TREATMENT (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1966 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE HEALTH ACTS, 1947 TO 1964, AND THE MENTAL TREATMENT ACTS, 1945 TO 1961. [18th January, 1966.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Amendment of section 15 of Health Act, 1953.

1.—(1) In this section “the section” means section 15 of the Health Act, 1953 , as amended.

(2)Subsection (2) of the section is hereby amended by— (a) the substitution in paragraph (b) of “one thousand two hundred pounds” for “eight hundred pounds”, and (b) the substitution in paragraph (c) of “sixty pounds” for “fifty pounds”.

(3)The following subsection is hereby substituted for subsection (6) of the section: “(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, the yearly means of the spouse (if any) of such person, where the spouse is resident with such person.”

(4)Subsection (9) of the section is hereby amended by the substitution of “one thousand two hundred pounds” for “eight hundred pounds”.

(5)The reference to the section in other sections of the Health Act, 1953 (including references thereto contained in the amendments of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945 , set out in section 71 of the Health Act, 1953 ) shall be construed as references to the section as amended by any Act passed after the passing of that Act (including this Act).

Amendment of section 279A of Mental Treatment Act, 1945.

2.—Section 279A of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945 (being the section inserted in that Act by subsection (11) of section 71 of the Health Act, 1953 ) is hereby amended by the substitution of “one thousand two hundred pounds” for “eight hundred pounds”.

Short title, collective citations and commencement.

3.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Health and Mental Treatment (Amendment) Act, 1966.

(2)The Health Acts, 1947 to 1964, and section 1 of this Act may be cited together as the Health Acts, 1947 to 1966.

(3)The Mental Treatment Acts, 1945 to 1961, and section 2 of this Act may be cited together as the Mental Treatment Acts, 1945 to 1966.

(4)This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister for Health appoints by order.

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