Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason citizens of this State should pay private health insurance when her plans for a single tier health service provide no accommodation benefits to the privately insured who are effectively paying twice for their hospital bed and catering; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19670/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under arrangements for public hospitals introduced in June 1991, on foot of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1991, everyone, regardless of income is entitled to public hospital and public consultant services subject only to modest statutory charges, from which medical card holders are exempt. Alternatively, one can opt to be the private patient of both the consultant and the hospital. Private patients are liable for both the appropriate accommodation charges and consultants' fees in addition to the statutory charges. The proportion of the population availing of private health insurance has continued to increase since this legislation was enacted.

Over 50% of the Irish population now avail of private health insurance in addition to their eligibility for public hospital services. A Market Review commissioned by the Health Insurance Authority, and published in September 2005, reaffirmed earlier research by the same organisation that people considered hospital treatment as the most important aspect of private health insurance (77% of all responses), while only 11% of individuals thought hospital accommodation the most important aspect of their cover. As stated in the Government's 2001 Health Strategy, "private health insurance will continue to play a vital part in the overall resourcing of health care in this country".