National Health Insurance Act, 1923

PART IV.

APPLICATION OF NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE TO SHORT-SERVICE SOLDIERS.

Contributions in respect of Soldiers.

20.—(1) For the purpose of providing soldiers to whom this Part of this Act applies with such benefits during their term of service and after their return to civil life as are mentioned in this Part of this Act, the sum of four pence and one half-penny per week shall be paid by the Minister for Defence out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas to the Insurance Commissioners in respect of

(a) every soldier who at the date of his enlistment was or is a member of an Irish or British Approved Society;

(b) Every soldier who at the date of his enlistment was not a member of an Approved Society, but who, having been resident in Saorstát Eireann prior to enlistment, elects to become, and becomes a member of an Approved Society in Saorstát Eireann, or who, having been resident in Great Britain prior to enlistment, elects to become and becomes a member of the Military Forces (International Arrangements) Insurance Fund, provided he so elects and becomes a member of such Society or Fund within three months after the passing of this Act, or the date of his enlistment, whichever is the later.

(2) The weekly sums of four pence and one half-penny payable under the foregoing sub-section shall commence

(a) from the 1st day of April, 1922, in the case of a soldier who enlisted before that date and was at the date of enlistment a member of an Irish or British Approved Society;

(b) from the date of enlistment in the case of a soldier who enlisted after the 1st day of April, 1922, and was, or is, at the date of enlistment a member of an Irish or British Approved Society;

(c) from the 3rd day of July, 1922, or the date of enlistment, whichever is the later, in the case of a soldier who enlisted before the passing of this Act, and was not a member of an Irish or British Approved Society at the date of enlistment, but duly becomes a member of an Approved Society in Saorstát Eireann or of the Military Forces (International Arrangements) Insurance Fund pursuant to the foregoing sub-section;

(d) from the date of enlistment in the case of a soldier who enlists after the passing of this Act and is not a member of an Irish or British Approved Society at the date of enlistment, but duly becomes a member of an Approved Society in Saorstát Eireann or of the Military Forces (International Arrangements) Insurance Fund pursuant to the foregoing sub-section.

(3) The number of persons in respect of whom payments are to be made under the foregoing provisions of this Section shall be ascertained in such manner and the sums to be paid thereunder shall be paid to the Insurance Commissioners in such manner and at such dates in each year as shall be agreed between the Insurance Commissioners and the Minister for Defence.

(4) This Section shall not apply to a soldier who enlisted before the age of sixteen until he attains that age, and on his attaining that age shall apply to him as if he had enlisted at the time when he had attained that age.

(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Acts, a soldier who was or is at the date of his enlistment a Deposit Contributor, and who does not, within three months after that date, or, in the case of a soldier who enlisted before the passing of this Act, within three months after the passing of this Act, join an Approved Society in Saorstát Eireann, shall be treated as having ceased to be an insured person on and from the date of his enlistment, but on his discharge or, if he dies while a soldier, on his death he shall again be treated as a Deposit Contributor, and the balance which was to the credit of his account in the Deposit Contributors' Fund at the date of his enlistment shall be replaced to the credit of his account in the said Fund.