James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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450. To ask the Minister for Health if an independent body that is separate from the HSE can be appointed in order to assess and grade claims made through the Cross Border Directive Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23776/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Cross-Border Directive (EU Directive 24/11) scheme was transposed into Irish legislation in June 2014. The HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross Border Directive (CBD) in Ireland. Under the terms of the CBD, 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 through the National Contact Point (NCP) provides information for patients on the operation of the CBD. Under the governing legislation, the HSE is responsible for the operation of the CBD in Ireland, including the reimbursement of the cost of treatment and assessing individual applications for reimbursement under the provisions of the CBD.