Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a delay by the HSE in reimbursing claimants availing of surgery under the cross-border directive; his plans to ensure that a person (details supplied) is paid as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48938/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross-Border Directive and has a dedicated CBD office for this purpose. Since being introduced in 2014, awareness of the provisions of the Directive has grown steadily. In 2015, the first full year of operation of the scheme, 150 reimbursements were made at a cost of €585,863. In 2018, these figures had risen to 3,886 reimbursement claims processed, at a value in excess of €12m.

The significant growth in use of the scheme, and volume of applications submitted, has placed additional demands on the CBD office and given rise to a build-up of applications. over recent months.  I have been advised by the HSE that additional resources are now being allocated and specific initiatives implemented to urgently address the backlog and delays in reimbursement.

Regarding the specific application referred to, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.