Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if hospital in-patient charges apply to a patient, who has a long term illness book and who is in receipt of a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33001/06]

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, inter alia, of people with full eligibility (i.e. those entitled to a medical card), women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks, children suffering from prescribed long term diseases and holders of a card issued under Section 2 of the Health (Amendment) Act, 1996.

Under the Long Term Illness Scheme (LTI) persons with a specified condition are entitled to obtain drugs and medicines necessary for the treatment of the condition free of charge. However, it does not affect a person's liability for in-patient charges.

If the Disability Allowance is the sole income of the person concerned, they may be eligible for a Medical Card. In this regard, they may wish to contact the Health Service Executive at www.HSE.ie or contact the National Information Line, operated by the HSE, at lo-call 1850 24 1850.