Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will continue to outline to the Minister the need to reimburse those who have to borrow to have an operation abroad. Having to wait for 90 days falls short of what is desired. Patients should be reimbursed within 30 days. I will continue to follow up on the matter with the Minister on behalf of all those who raised it in the Dáil this morning and afternoon. I cannot make a commitment to sort out the matter of reimbursement within 30 days, but I commit to making it my business, straight after this debate, to speak to the Minister about it. I shall ask him to consider urgently the need to reimburse patients who have taken out loans, some of which are quite substantial, to pay for treatment abroad. Provision should be made to reimburse patients as soon as possible, certainly within 90 days.

I note the frustration that has been expressed by Deputy Joan Collins and by others in the Chamber this morning. I assure them that when I speak to the Minister, Deputy Harris, about this matter, I will be as strong and powerful as I can. I agree that people are having to wait a long time to be reimbursed. Deputy Joan Collins has rightly pointed out that some of those who have borrowed to have procedures done cannot afford to wait any longer for these payments to be made. There is an urgent need to address these issues, which I will raise with the Minister, Deputy Harris. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, said he would do likewise when he replied this morning to some of the other Deputies who raised concerns about this matter.

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