Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2014
522. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the circumstances in which persons are exempted from the €100 emergency department fee, with particular reference to road traffic victims (details supplied). [11678/14]
View answer557. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will consider abolishing the €100 emergency department charge for families-next of kin who are grieving following the death of a loved one in road traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12026/14]
View answer567. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to abolish the practice of charging grieving families of those who have died in road traffic accidents a €100 fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12083/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 522, 557 and 567 together.
Currently those exempted from the Emergency Department charge are persons with a medical card, persons who have a referral letter from a General Practitioner, a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient or other exemptions as provided for by the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No 45 of 2013) made under Section 56 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The charge is currently €100 per visit. The Emergency Department charge is levied as a contribution towards the costs of providing emergency services to all patients requiring treatment. There are no plans at the moment to review the exemptions to this charge.
