Health Act 1953
Number 26 of 1953
HEALTH ACT 1953
REVISED
Updated to 3 February 2026
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Health Act 1953. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the Credit Review Act 2026 (1/2026), enacted 3 February 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 31 of 2026), made 3 February 2026, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number 26 of 1953.
HEALTH ACT 1953
REVISED
Updated to 3 February 2026
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL
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Section |
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INSTITUTIONS
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Extension of meaning of “institution”. (Repealed) |
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District institutions and dispensaries. (Repealed) |
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Direction with respect to institutional services. (Repealed) |
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Extern institutions. (Repealed) |
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Transfer of officers on discontinuation of health institution. (Repealed) |
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Religious Services. (Repealed) |
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Exemption from local inquiry. (Repealed) |
HEALTH SERVICES
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General medical services. (Repealed) |
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Medical care for mothers. (Repealed) |
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Infant welfare services. (Repealed) |
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Child welfare services. (Repealed) |
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Dental, ophthalmic and aural services, for children. (Repealed) |
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Dental, ophthalmic and aural services, for middle income group. (Repealed) |
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Regulations in relation to services. (Repealed) |
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Maternity cash grants. (Repealed) |
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Milk for mothers and children. (Repealed) |
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Institutional services at choice of patient, etc. (Repealed) |
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Institutional services for persons not entitled to services under section 15. (Repealed) |
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Declaration as to means. (Repealed) |
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Notification of change of circumstances. (Repealed) |
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Determination of doubt as to responsible health authority. (Repealed) |
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Charge where person not entitled obtains service. (Repealed) |
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Recovery of charges. (Repealed) |
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Affording of facilities for health examination of children at schools. (Repealed) |
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False statements, etc. (Repealed) |
MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS OF PRINCIPAL ACT
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Amendment of section 103 of Principal Act. (Repealed) |
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MISCELLANEOUS
Enactments Repealed
Acts Referred to
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No. 28 of 1947 |
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No. 27 of 1939 |
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No. 11 of 1952 |
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No. 17 of 1930 |
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No. 47 of 1947 |
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No. 23 of 1941 |
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No. 25 of 1952 |
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No. 25 of 1927 |
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No. 39 of 1926 |
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No. 19 of 1945 |
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No. 46 of 1947 |
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No. 4 of 1945 |
Number 26 of 1953
HEALTH ACT 1953
REVISED
Updated to 3 February 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE HEALTH ACT, 1947, AND CERTAIN OTHER ENACTMENTS. [29th October, 1953.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
C1
Functions transferred to the Health Service Executive (1.01.2005) by Health Act 2004 (42/2004), s. 59 and sch. 3, S.I. No. 887 of 2004, subject to transitional provisions in s. 74 and sch 5.
2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
...
"Executive" means the Health Service Executive established under section 6;
...
59.—(1) The functions that, immediately before the establishment day, were the functions of a specified body under or in connection with the enactments referred to in Schedule 3 are, by this Act, transferred to the Executive on that day.
(2) ...
(3) The functions transferred by this Act to the Executive include the functions specified in any enactment referred to in Schedule 3 as a function of the following:
(a) the chief executive officer of a health board;
(b) the Regional Chief Executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority;
(c) the area chief executive of an Area Health Board.
(4) This section does not apply in relation to the functions of the Hospital Bodies Administrative Bureau.
...
SCHEDULE 3
Transfer of Functions and References to Functional Areas
1. Health Acts 1947 to 2001
...
Editorial Notes:
E1
Power pursuant to collectively cited Health Acts exercised (1.08.1954) by Institutional Assistance Regulations 1954 (S.I. No. 103 of 1954), in operation as per reg. 3.
E2
Power pursuant to collectively cited Health Acts exercised (1.08.1954) by General Institutional and Specialist Services Regulations 1954 (S.I. No. 100 of 1954), in operation as per reg. 3.
E3
Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to collectively cited Health Acts exercised (1.08.1954) by General Medical Services Regulations 1954 (S.I. No. 102 of 1954), in operation as per reg. 3; revoked (1.04.1972) by Health Services Regulations 1972 (S.I. No. 88 of 1972), reg. 4 and sch., in operation as per reg. 3.
E4
Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to collectively cited Health Acts exercised (1.08.1954) by Maternity and Child Health Services Regulations 1954 (S.I. No. 98 of 1954), in operation as per reg. 3; revoked (1.04.1971) by Health Services Regulations 1971 (S.I. No. 105 of 1971), reg. 4 and sch., in operation as per reg. 3.
E5
Previous affecting provision: power pursuant to collectively cited Health Acts exercised (1.08.1954) by Maternity and Child Health Services (Amendment) Regulations 1954 (S.I. No. 158 of 1954), in operation as per reg. 2; revoked (1.07.1964) by Maternity and Child Health Services (Amendment) Regulations 1964 (S.I. No. 158 of 1964), reg. 4, in operation as per reg. 3.