Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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938. To ask the Minister for Health if applications for the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme have opened; the location in which information on the scheme can be found; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11859/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Since 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. On the 28th December 2020 the Government approved the implementation of a new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme. The new Scheme, which has been operational for applications from 1 January 2021 for 12 months on an administrative basis, will enable persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland. Patients are advised to contact the HSE CBD office directly for further information on individual applications under the NI Planned Healthcare Scheme.

Furthermore, patients also continue to have access to health services under the EU CBD Scheme in all other remaining EU/EEA countries. In the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic, persons seeking to utilise these schemes should review and adhere to the public health guidance and restrictions in place at any point in time.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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939. To ask the Minister for Health if those in receipt of a UK pension are eligible to avail of the Cross-Border Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11868/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to the 1^stJanuary 2021, UK pensioners residing in Ireland who had accessed healthcare under the EU Cross Border Directive were required to have their healthcare costs reimbursed by the UK as this was a requirement of the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive. As a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive no longer apply to the UK. Therefore, as of 1st January 2021, for UK pensioners ordinarily resident in the State, Ireland became responsible for the reimbursement of healthcare costs arising from accessing healthcare under the EU Cross Border Directive in another EU/EEA Member State.