Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the €60 charge is applied in cases where a patient is referred to non accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11822/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005, provide for a statutory charge of €60 for attendance at Accident and Emergency Departments. This charge is levied only on persons who attend at Accident and Emergency Departments without a referral note from their doctor and applies only for the first visit of any episode of care. This applies to everyone receiving treatment in a public hospital with the exception of, inter alia, persons with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks and children suffering from prescribed long term diseases.

The Health (In-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005, impose a charge of €60 per night up to a maximum of €600 in any twelve consecutive months, during which an individual is maintained as an in-patient in a public hospital. This includes persons who are admitted to the hospital as a day case. These are the only circumstances under which a statutory charge of €60 can be raised. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind she might forward the details to me and I will have it investigated by the Health Service Executive.