David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of people for which her Department received over €420 million in respect of health treatments here for people who worked abroad as outlined by the Taoiseach in response to Leaders' Questions on 31 January 2006; the amount received from each respective state; the international agreement or agreements through which this money was received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4245/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation (EC) 1408/71 facilitates free movement of workers and others within the EU by providing for co-ordination between member states' health care and social security systems. In relation to health care, its provisions ensure that where people are affiliated with the health care system of one member state, insured with that system or covered by it, but residing or staying in another member state, they can access the public health care system of that member state in certain circumstances. The regulation provides for the reimbursement of health care costs in one member state to persons affiliated with the health care system of another member state.

The Revised Estimates volume 2005 shows an estimate of €422.2 million in appropriations-in-aid to the HSE Vote in respect of reimbursement of the costs of health care provided under this regulation. This figure represents the estimated net liability in 2005 of the UK to Ireland for the costs of health care provided under the terms of the Regulation (EC) 1408/71. Such persons include temporary visitors from the UK, UK pensioners and their dependants residing in Ireland, and the dependent families residing in Ireland of persons employed in the UK. Under the terms of a bilateral reimbursement agreement in place since 1973 between the two countries, this liability has been calculated on a lump sum basis rather than an individual basis.

With regard to other EU member states, the costs of health care are mutually waived in respect of Belgium, except for costs arising from accidents at work and occupational diseases, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, France, except for costs arising in respect of pensioners, Netherlands, Austria and Sweden. The costs of health care provided to persons, mainly temporary visitors, affiliated with the health care system of the remaining member states, prior to expansion, are very low and historically have not been collected as the administrative costs of doing so would be expected to exceed the likely receipts. Nevertheless, in view of the expansion of the European Union, the HSE is considering the data collection procedures necessary to provide an up-to-date assessment of these costs.