Central Statistics Office

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Questions (131)

Richard Bruton

Question:

131. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the data held by the CSO on the average weekly spending on out-of-pocket medical expenses per week, and as a percentage of total weekly spending. [5784/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The Household Budget Survey (HBS) is a large national household survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office on a five yearly basis. It collects information on household’s expenditure on goods and services.

HBS 2015/2016 indicated that the average weekly household expenditure on Medical expenses/services and therapeutic equipment for that period was €18.48, equivalent to 2.2% of total household expenditure.

More up-to-date information is not available at this stage as the HBS is a quinquennial survey which was also deferred on two occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.