S.I. No. 544 of 2008

HEALTH (OUT-PATIENT CHARGES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2008

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 23rd December, 2008.

The Minister for Health and Children in exercise of the powers conferred on her by section 5 of the Section 56 of the section 1 of the Section 72 of the Health Act, 1970 as adapted by the Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 (No. 308 of 1997) with the consent of the Minister for Finance hereby makes the following regulations:-

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 2009.

3. Article 4 of the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 37 of 1994 ) (as amended by Article 3 of Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2007 ( S.I. No. 825 of 2007 )) is hereby amended by the substitution of €100 for €66 in sub-article (2).

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

14 December 2008

MARY HARNEY,

Minister for Health and Children.

The Minister for Finance consents to these regulations.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

12 December 2008

BRIAN LENIHAN,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

The purpose of these regulations is to amend the charge set out in the Health (Out-Patient Charges) (Amendment) Regulations, 2007. The charge is revised from €66 to €100 in respect of attendance at accident and emergency or casualty departments where the person concerned has not been referred by a medical practitioner. The charge shall not apply where such an attendance results in hospital admission. The usual exemptions, which include medical card holders and hardship provision, shall continue to apply. The revised charge comes into effect on 1 January, 2009.