The Irish taxpayer will be forced to shell out €34m bill after the state was summoned with a hefty bill for healthcare treatment on Irish citizens abroad.
The staggering figure which was issued to the Department of Health comes after a number of Irish holidaymakers and emigrants made claims on their insurance whilst being abroad.
Under EU law anyone who travels to another member state is entitled to receive the same treatment as they would whilst in their own country, although their country of origin must cover the cost rather than the Government of the country they travelled to.
The new report which was submitted to the Department of Health shows that the state will have fork out large sums to a number of EU member states. The largest being €11 million which will be given to the Spanish Government.
The second largest will be allocated to the UK, who lodged a claim for €8.5 million, whilst France, Germany and Poland, will receive €6.7 million, €2.3 million €1.3 million respectively.
The news will more than likely further enrage the Irish taxpayer as the country’s health system is overwhelmingly failing whilst being one of the most expensive in Europe.