Health Services

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Ceisteanna (846)

Eoghan Kenny

Ceist:

846. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health her views on the marketing of private health services by private health providers for services outside of this jurisdiction, but on the island of Ireland, for the provision of hip and knee surgeries that are fully reimbursed; whether such services are needed; if they fulfil an important role in reducing waiting lists, or whether the services they provide are superfluous; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57309/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The current administrative scheme enables persons ordinarily resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland. Such healthcare will be reimbursed at the cost of providing that treatment in the State or the cost of same in Northern Ireland, whichever is the lesser.