John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason citizens of this State, if they cannot receive appropriate medical treatment here, cannot be funded for this treatment to be carried out in another EU Member State if they have private health insurance, although this facility is available to public patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17967/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Where a person requires specific necessary treatment which is not available in Ireland, the Health Service Executive may make arrangements to send the patient to another EU member state for treatment in the public system of that State. In such cases a form E112 is issued by the Executive.

E112 arrangements operate under Regulation 1408/71, which deals with the coordination of social security schemes, including healthcare, among Member States. The guidelines for E112 referrals require that the application must be assessed before the patient goes abroad. A Consultant must certify that the treatment is not available in Ireland, that there is an urgent medical necessity for it, and that the treatment is regarded as a proven form of medical treatment. In addition, the hospital must be prepared to accept an E112 form, which involves treating the patient as a public patient.

In normal circumstances, it is a matter for the HSE to determine if such treatment is to be authorised. The issue of the E112 form involves a commitment by the Executive to pay the cost of treatment. Persons with full or limited eligibility may avail of E112 arrangements to seek treatment abroad in the public system. Persons with private health insurance are entitled to apply for treatment under the scheme, but any treatment they receive in another EU state upon approval of their application must be provided by the public health system of that State if it is to qualify under the E112 system.

Arrangements which are made privately for the treatment of a patient in any country abroad must be regarded as outside the terms of the EU Regulations. The HSE has no obligation to meet any part of the cost involved.

If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, I would be happy to arrange to have it investigated by the Health Service Executive.