Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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465. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a campaign by a society (details supplied); his further views on the society’s call to abolish inpatient charges for all patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42290/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months. All persons accessing public in-patient services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory public in-patient charge, subject to a number of exemptions, including where a person is a medical cardholder. There are currently no plans to exempt further categories of patients from the public in-patient charge.

Hospital charges represent a nominal yet important contribution towards the cost of providing hospital services. Any curtailment of this funding stream would put further pressure on the Exchequer and the taxpayer in order to maintain service levels.