Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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326. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a repayment for an operation received through the cross-border directive; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11679/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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327. To ask the Minister for Health the amount expended by the HSE on services provided under the cross-border directive that resulted in claims being made to the HSE in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11680/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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328. To ask the Minister for Health the number and value of claims in process by the HSE for reimbursement under the cross-border directive; the average delay in paying claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11681/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE operates the Cross Border Directive in Ireland. Patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient may access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the country they choose to receive the service in. The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser.

The HSE's target for reimbursing patients for healthcare accessed abroad under the CBD is a maximum of 20 working days from receiving all the completed documents. However, the HSE confirmed that it currently takes approximately 64 days to process reimbursements. The HSE have confirmed the increase in processing times is due to a significant increase in the amount of applications received for the CBD.

As it is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the number and value of claims for reimbursement under the Cross Border Directive.