Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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1282. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline proposals to abolish inpatient charges, if he will provide information (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12738/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the State are eligible, subject to certain charges, for public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. Currently, all persons accessing public acute in-patient 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, such as medical card holders. As part of Budget 2023, I announced my commitment to abolish all public inpatient hospital charges this year. The Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 has recently been published and, when enacted, will remove the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 in a year, for people accessing care as a public patient in public hospitals. I intend to commence passage of this Bill in the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.

In relation to the specific question raised, as this is an operational matter, I have also asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.