Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

261. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the State of providing free prescriptions for all citizens. [45502/13]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

263. To ask the Minister for Health the current cost to the State of providing free general practitioner care for those with medical cards. [45504/13]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

264. To ask the Minister for Health the current cost to the State of providing prescriptions for those with medical cards. [45505/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 261, 263 and 264 together.

In 2012 payments to GPs for services provided to medical card and GP visit cardholders was approximately €440 million. The cost of drugs and medicines is estimated at just over €1.3 billion. It is not possible to estimate the cost of providing free drugs and medicines to all citizens.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

262. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the State of providing free acute hospital care for all citizens. [45503/13]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

266. To ask the Minister for Health the current spending on acute hospital services. [45507/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 266 together.

Under the Health Acts all persons (not just citizens) ordinarily resident in the State are entitled to avail of acute hospital services subject to limited charges e.g. €75 per night in a public hospital bed subject to a maximum payment of €750 in any 12 month period. The HSE acute hospital allocation for 2013, as set out in the recently published HSE monthly performance report, is €3.704bn.