Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person availing of a private in-patient bed or a day care bed will be charged the public bed night charge of €60 in each case, as well as the proposed charges of €551 and €397 respectively. [37295/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It has always been the practice to apply the two charges to which the Deputy refers in the cases of private patients who pay a daily charge under section 55 of the Health Act 1970. With effect from 1 January 2006, the charge for private care will be €551 per day in the case of a regional hospital, €460 per day for a county hospital and €197 per day for a district hospital. The corresponding charges for semi-private care are €432, €370 and €168, respectively. Private day case charges will be €397 in the case of a regional hospital, €329 for a county hospital and €146 for a district hospital. Private patients are also liable for the public hospital charge, which will be €60 per day from 1 January 2006, up to a maximum of €600 in any 12-month period.