Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has made provision in the 2006 Estimates for changes in the charges for casualty, outpatient visits, a public ward, a semi-private ward and a private ward; and the charges and the ceilings which will apply in 2006. [36041/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As announced following the publication of the Abridged Estimates Volume on 17 November 2005, the cost of visiting accident and emergency, where the person concerned has not been referred by a medical practitioner, will increase by €5 from €55 to €60 in 2006. The pubic hospital inpatient charge will also rise by €5 from €55 to €60 per night, up to a maximum of ten nights, in any 12 consecutive months. There will also be an increase of 10% in the charges raised by hospitals from private beds, income which will support the services provided in these hospitals. The details are as follows:

The combination of these increased bed charges and the accident and emergency charge will yield some €25 million in a year.