Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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213. To ask the Minister for Health the reason medical card holders must pay for access to MRI scans; if he will address concerns that this disproportionately impacts persons on low incomes who may then avoid or be unable to seek urgently needed treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42377/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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 including consultant services.

All persons, irrespective of illness or condition, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions, including where a person is a medical cardholder.

Medical cardholders are also exempt from the only outpatient charge that applies in public hospitals which is the €100 Emergency Department charge.