Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am advised that the actual or economic cost involved is approximately of the order of €1,000 per day. We are asking that the citizen involved would make a co-payment, essentially a contribution to that cost. Under the Bill we are setting an absolute ceiling of one quarter of the cost, which will be approximately €250. That is the absolute ceiling.

I reiterate to the House that the policy of the Minister and the Government that the co-payment should be of the order of €80 per day. I am offering three figures: the economic cost of approximately €1,000 per day, the absolute ceiling set at €250 and the policy of the Minister that the cost should be set at €80. That serves to put the legislation in context. Further, there is the additional safeguard being introduced that the charges should be subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.