Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of the various current hospital charges per person in the public system; the overall amount generated by such charges in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9522/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the matter of income generated by hospital charges and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them. The hospital charges that currently apply are as follows.

The Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013 provides for a €100 charge for out-patient services provided at an emergency department, an accident and emergency department, a casualty department, a minor injury unit, an urgent care centre, a local injury unit or any other facility providing similar services, subject to certain exemptions. In addition, under the Health Services (Out-Patient) Regulations 1993, the HSE may levy a charge on private patients for the use of an MRI machine in a public hospital.

Under the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations 1987 (as amended) public in-patients in public hospitals are liable to a €75 per day charge subject to a maximum of €750 in any 12 consecutive months, subject to certain exemptions. Under the Health (Amendment) Act 2013 private in-patients in public hospitals are subject to charges that range from €329 to €1,000 per day. The charge levied depends on whether accommodation is provided in a single or multiple occupancy room and if overnight accommodation is provided.

As required by the Health (Amendment) Act 1986, where a hospital is informed that the patient, their personal representative or a dependent is pursuing a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) claim, billing data is generated on the local billing system. Invoices can be raised for an RTA related in-patient or out-patient charge depending on the services provided at the hospital.

The Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005-2011 provide that, subject to certain exemptions, charges apply to the maintenance element of "long-stay" in-patient services (excluding acute in-patient services or services supported under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme) provided in hospitals or other specified settings by or on behalf of the HSE for over 30 days within a rolling 12 month period. Charges apply to those with full or limited eligibility and may not exceed 80% of the weekly non-contributory State pension. The Regulations provide for sliding scales of charges based on income, with the current maximum being €175 per week where 24-hour nursing care is provided or €130 per week where 24-hour nursing care is not provided. The charges may be waived or reduced where necessary to avoid financial hardship, having regard to each individual's financial circumstances (including whether he or she has dependants).