Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the price increases imposed by her Department and its agencies for public services, products or taxes from 1 January to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37695/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The charge for attending accident and emergency, outpatients or casualty departments increased by 10% to €66 euro on 1st January 2008. Private patients in public hospitals who are treated as private patients are currently charged at the rates set out in the table below. These charges are in addition to a charge equivalent to the public hospital statutory in-patient charge which is €66 each day during which a person is maintained. The maximum payment in any twelve consecutive months is €660.

The Deputy will also be aware that these charges will increase from 1st January 2009. Private and Semi-Private fees will increase by 20%, Accident and Emergency charges will be €100 for non-medical card holders attending A&E departments without a letter from their GP and the public hospital statutory in-patient bed charge will increase by €9 to €75 per night (to a maximum of 10 nights a year).