Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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640. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is a recipient of jobs initiative payment can have their bill for treatment in Beaumont Hospital waived in view of the circumstances. [22364/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter 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 HSE makes in-patient services available to specific categories of persons under Section 52 of the Health Act 1970, as amended. In accordance with Section 53 of the Act, the charge in respect of in-patient services is set out in the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations 1987 (S.I. No. 116/1987). Regulation 4(1) provides the list of persons exempted from any charge made in respect of in-patient services provided under Section 52 of the Health Act, including those who hold a medical card.

As The HSE is responsible under law to levy appropriate in-patient charges where applicable, you'll appreciate that it is contrary to the HSE Governance Act of 2013 for me to make a direction to the HSE or a hospital regarding this issue.