James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will outline the circumstances where the fee of €100 for a visit to a Hospital Emergency Department is waived or considered inapplicable; the protocol regarding charging of fees in circumstances of medical emergency or urgent medical need when a patient finds himself away from home and their normal general practitioner, but enter an emergency department of a hospital for assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25730/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The €100 outpatient charge for attendance at a designated Accident and Emergency Department is not applicable to persons with full eligibility; women receiving services in respect of motherhood; children up to the age of six weeks; children suffering from prescribed diseases or disabilities (the exemption applies only to treatment for the prescribed condition); children referred from treatment from child health clinics and school health examinations; persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases under Part 1V of the Health Act 1947; persons undergoing tests for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of a disease, defect or condition that may be prescribed under section 70 of the Act; persons deemed to be persons with full eligibility by the Chief Executive for the purposes of the services concerned (hardship clause) (section 45 (7) of the Act); persons who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner; persons whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient; holders of a Health (Amendment) Act Card.

The prescribed diseases and disabilities referred to are mental handicap, mental illness, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, haemophilia, and cerebral palsy.

Other than in the circumstances described above, a person with limited eligibility is liable for the charge concerned.