Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the provision of MRI scans and if they are provided free as part of the general medical services to inpatients and outpatients; the number of MRI scans that took place in the past year or any recent year for which data is available; if she will provide details of the waiting list for MRI scans in each of the individual Dublin hospitals; if the National Treatment Purchase Fund is dealing with the backlog of MRI scans; if any innovative scheme such as part payment by the client has been considered in cases of severe waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42543/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Under the current eligibility framework, there is no charge for MRI scans provided to public patients in public hospitals. However, the Minister has approved the application of charges to private patients receiving MRI services in approved public hospitals. The Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of patient data in relation to MRI scans and I have forwarded the Deputy's queries on this matter to the Executive.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund, by the end of 2010, will have facilitated over 13,000 MRIs and ultrasound diagnostic procedures since 2006. Hospitals refer patients to the Fund and this arrangement is aimed at those patients who have been waiting longest. The Fund's annual figures are set out in the table.