Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 171: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the high call out charge for the doctor on call in certain areas of County Louth; if her attention has further been drawn to the possibility that it is a contributory factor to attendance in accident and emergency units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12424/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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General practitioners who participate in out of hours co-operatives do not seek any payment from medical card patients for services delivered under the general medical services scheme whether it is delivered at a treatment centre or in a domiciliary setting. However, consultation charges which may be sought from private patients who attend for treatment or to whom domiciliary service is given by the participating general practitioners are a matter of private contract between the two parties concerned, the doctor as the service provider and the patient as the service user. As the Health Service Executive now has the responsibility to deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf personal and social services for eligible persons, my Department has referred the matter to the chief officer of the executive's north-eastern area for investigation and direct reply.