Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My question concerns the presentation by the HIA and the last slide dealing with the increase in claims paid per insured person. It went up by 23% in 2009, 4% in 2010, 5% in 2011 and is now 12%. Have we identified the reason for that significant increase, particularly the figure of 12%? Is it because of additional Government levies? What is the reason for that? Why was there an increase of 23% in 2009? It goes back to the other question about how we have allowed health costs to escalate in this country. I know the cost of drugs is not directly related to the cost of hospital care but we have allowed the cost of drugs to increase from something like €572 million ten years' ago to €1.9 billion, which is an increase of 230%. There has been a 67% increase in the amount paid out per insured person in a five-year period, which is a significant increase. Have we identified how that increase occurred?