Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 218: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if this person should have been charged for his stay in hospital in view of the fact that he is a PAYE worker paying PRSI. [10491/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The statutory hospital in-patient charge of €60 per night applies to everyone receiving treatment in a public hospital with the exception of people with full eligibility, that is, those entitled to a medical card, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks and children suffering from prescribed long-term diseases.

Persons suffering from epilepsy have the same eligibility for services as all other persons. In addition, under the long-term illness scheme they are entitled to obtain drugs and medicines necessary for the treatment of the condition free of charge.

The management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.