Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money that is being received by the health service from the €100 charge for accident and emergency care in hospitals; and if he will provide figures of the percentage of those liable for the charge who fail to pay. [38335/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the amount of Emergency Department income received by the HSE statutory and voluntary hospitals in 2011 was €16.4 million. Bad debts written off in 2011 as a percentage of income raised in 2011 was approximately 25%.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reducing or removing the €100 charge for accident and emergency care for those under the age of 18 years. [38336/12]

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider waiving or reducing the fees for accident and emergency care for children who suffer from conditions which necessitate regular attendance at hospital accident and emergency units. [38337/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1734 and 1735 together.

The A&E charge which is currently €100, is provided for by the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 1994 (as amended). The charge applies to persons attending Accident and Emergency and Casualty Departments subject to exemptions set out in these regulations, including medical card holders and those who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner. There are no plans at present to change the A&E charge.