Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
784. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm that consideration would be given to removing emergency department charges in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35246/23]
View answerThe Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an emergency department (€100) and a minor injury unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
There are no plans at present to amend the provisions in relation to the application of these charges.
