--- title: Minister for Health announces abolition of public in-patient charges for children under 16 description: Health image: https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/StephenDonnelly_PR.jpg --- [ Join ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/join-fianna-fail) [ Donate Now ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/donate-now) Search website: ** Search # Minister for Health announces abolition of public in-patient charges for children under 16 Published on: 23 September 2022 The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has announced that, with effect from today, public in-patient charges for children under 16 years have been abolished in all public hospitals. The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Act 2022 removes the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day (including day-case charges) for children under 16 years of age in all public hospitals. Following enactment of the legislation before the summer recess, the Minister for Health signed the Commencement Order providing for the removal of charges from today.  Minister Donnelly said: “Better access, together with affordability and improved quality are amongst my top priorities in healthcare. Therefore, I am delighted to announce that from today, children under 16 will no longer be charged when accessing public in-patient care as a patient in our public hospitals. This significant change to healthcare provision in Ireland is focused towards easing the financial burden of parents or guardians when bringing their child to hospital for in-patient care.  “In the context of current cost-of-living challenges this is another important commitment by Government towards affordability, as it will make our public hospitals free for children when they require access to treatment as a public patient. This initiative builds on the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25 that I launched last week.    “My overall goal as Minister for Health is to help ensure that care is accessible and affordable and that cost is not a significant consideration when people need access to in-patient treatment and healthcare more generally.”  Tags: [Stephen Donnelly](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/tag/stephen-donnelly) --- ## **Related news:** [![Minister for Health Receives Cabinet Approval to Abolish Public In-Patient Charges for Children Legislation to Provide for the Abolition of Public In-Patient Charges for Children](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/StephenDonnelly_PR.jpg)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-for-health-receives-cabinet-approval-to-abolish-public-in-patient-charges-for-children-legislation-to-provide-for-the-abolition-of-public-in-patien-1651223896848) April 29, 2022 --- ##### [Minister for Health Receives Cabinet Approval to Abolish Public In-Patient Charges for Children Legislation to Provide for the Abolition of Public In-Patient Charges for Children](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-for-health-receives-cabinet-approval-to-abolish-public-in-patient-charges-for-children-legislation-to-provide-for-the-abolition-of-public-in-patien-1651223896848) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-for-health-receives-cabinet-approval-to-abolish-public-in-patient-charges-for-children-legislation-to-provide-for-the-abolition-of-public-in-patien-1651223896848) April 26, 2021 --- ##### [McGreehan calls on Minister for Children to come to Seanad to debate urgent issues around childcare](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/mcgreehan-calls-on-minister-for-children-to-come-to-seanad-to-debate-urgent-issues-around-childcare) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/mcgreehan-calls-on-minister-for-children-to-come-to-seanad-to-debate-urgent-issues-around-childcare) [![Public’s view sought on providing more changing places toilets for disabled people – McGreehan](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Erin_McGreehan_FF_Louth-Apr-26-2021-10-26-31-54-PM.jpg)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/publics-view-sought-on-providing-more-changing-places-toilets-for-disabled-people-mcgreehan) February 17, 2022 --- ##### [Public’s view sought on providing more changing places toilets for disabled people – McGreehan](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/publics-view-sought-on-providing-more-changing-places-toilets-for-disabled-people-mcgreehan) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/publics-view-sought-on-providing-more-changing-places-toilets-for-disabled-people-mcgreehan) [![Minister Donnelly Announces Government Approval to Publish the Health (Exemptions from Charges for Acute In-Patient Services) Bill 2022](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/PR_Stephen_Donnelly-1.png)](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-donnelly-announces-government-approval-to-publish-the-health-exemptions-from-charges-for-acute-in-patient-services-bill-2022) June 28, 2022 --- ##### [Minister Donnelly Announces Government Approval to Publish the Health (Exemptions from Charges for Acute In-Patient Services) Bill 2022](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-donnelly-announces-government-approval-to-publish-the-health-exemptions-from-charges-for-acute-in-patient-services-bill-2022) [![](https://www.fiannafail.ie/hubfs/fianna-theme/icons/arrow-next.svg) ](https://www.fiannafail.ie/news/minister-donnelly-announces-government-approval-to-publish-the-health-exemptions-from-charges-for-acute-in-patient-services-bill-2022)