Written answers

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Department of Health and Children

Health Services

11:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the concerns of families of people with a disability who are being charged by the Health Service Executive for their long-term care, particularly pensioners who are left with little to buy clothes, food and so on; and her plans to assist those families. [10265/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005 have provided for two different classes of persons on whom charges may be levied. These regulations were signed by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Health and Children on 14 January 2005.

Class 1 refers to people in receipt of in-patient services on premises where nursing care is provided on a 24 hour basis on those premises. In this case, a weekly charge can be levied of €120 or the weekly income of that person less €35, whichever is the lesser.

Class 2 refers to people in receipt of in-patient services on premises where nursing care is not provided on a 24 hour basis on those premises. In this situation, a weekly charge can be levied of €90, or the weekly income of that person less €55 or 60% of the weekly income of that person, whichever is the lesser.

These regulations provide for the maximum charge to be levied on either class of person. The HSE issued revised guidelines for the implementation of the charges in July 2006. The HSE has the power to reduce or waive a charge on the grounds of "undue hardship". Under Section 1 (b) of the Health (Amendment) Act, 2005, the HSE can examine a person's overall financial situation in view of the person's reasonable expenditure in relation to themselves or their dependants, if any. The HSE when assessing charges takes into account only that income attributable solely to the person in care.

Under Section 4 (b) of the Health (Amendment) Act, 2005, charges are not payable where the in-patient services concerned are provided to a person under 18 years of age.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist persons (details supplied) with their costs; and if she will make it a priority issue. [10266/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question 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.

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