Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 556: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Government of the UK pays, on an annual basis to this State, a sum of money to ensure that persons whose only pension or income is from the UK and who are resident here will receive medical treatment; if there is a written agreement on this matter; the amount of the payment for each of the past ten years; the way this money was dispersed to each of the Health Service Executive areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30719/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation (EC) 1408/71 facilitates free movement of workers and others within the EU by providing for coordination between member states' health care and social security systems. In relation to health care, its provisions ensure that where people are affiliated with the health care system of one member state (insured with that system or covered by it), but residing or staying in another member state, they can access the public health care system of that member state in certain circumstances. The Regulation provides for the reimbursement of health care costs in one member state to persons affiliated with the health care system of another member state.

Under the terms of a formal bilateral reimbursement agreement in place since 1973 between Ireland and the UK, arising from the application of Regulation (EC) 1408/71, net liability between the two countries has been calculated on a lump sum basis rather than an individual basis and comprehends such persons as temporary visitors from the UK; UK pensioners and their dependants residing in Ireland; and the dependant families residing in Ireland of persons employed in the UK. The payment made in any one year is determined based upon an estimate of the number of persons falling within categories eligible for reimbursement and for whom each country is liable and an estimate of the average cost of providing health care treatment. The estimated number of pensioners for whom each country is liable is based on a survey by both administrations undertaken every three years. Such a survey has been completed this year and will be applied to determine the liabilities for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The amounts received from the UK during the period 1998 to 2007 are as follows:

Payments received in any one year can relate to both final settlements in respect of previous years' liabilities and advance payments in respect of the current year. In relation to the dispersal of the monies received under this agreement, these monies were previously incorporated as income into the Appropriations-in Aid in the Department of Health and Children's Vote. With the establishment of the Health Service Executive (HSE) this money now is included as an Appropriation-in Aid in the HSE Vote. The income offsets a portion of the gross funding requirements of the HSE at national level and reduces the net liability to the Exchequer. In relation to how the money is dispersed, this is the responsibility of the HSE. However, it is understood that it forms part of the budget allocation system of the HSE in conjunction with Exchequer funding.