Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has to pay for their stay in hospital when they are in receipt of a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19001/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Health (Amendment) Act 1991 all persons ordinarily resident in the State are eligible for public hospital services. Medical card holders receive the services free of charge, while non-medical card holders pay a modest charge. A medical card holder using public in-patient services should not be charged unless the person has explicitly opted to be treated as a private patient or is due compensation as a result of a road traffic accident. Any person can opt to be a private patient, and is then liable for the appropriate charge for private or semi-private treatment.

The particular case raised by the Deputy relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are 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 matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.