IRISH hospitals are charging non-EU nationals a minimum fee of €250 for treatment in what they say is a move to "collect the cost of services incurred".

Under the recently implemented directive, charges are understood to be €440 at Beaumont Hospital, in the region of €300 at St Vincent's and €250 at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. Fees for EU patients are €100.

Tom Finn, Assistant National Director of the HSE National Hospitals Office, has denied that those who cannot afford to pay are not being treated. "There have been no reports of problems issuing from this rule," he said.

"Non-EU residents do not have the entitlement in HSE hospitals now to free healthcare, and the sum of €250 is put in place to be paid at the time of being seen to in order to collect the costs of services."

"It is necessary in order to cover our cost bases as part of our budgeting process," he added.

The Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin's Church Street, a shelter for the homeless, says it is aware of non-EU nationals who could not be treated because they could not afford the fee. The centre is now bringing in a volunteer doctor to treat those who find themselves incapable of meeting the financial demands.

Conor Dempsey, spokesman for the Mater Hospital, has said this instruction is a recent development but "any patient with considerable hardships will be considered regardless".

It is understood the sum must now be paid in the majority of hospitals for any sort of treatment, each and every time patients present themselves. Employees have already received orders to begin invoicing those from outside Europe as soon as they are admitted.

This is a step away from the previous policy, according to a statement on the Citizens Information Board website. "In general, if you are a national of a non-EU country you are regarded as ordinarily resident in Ireland if you can show the HSE that you intend to live here for at least a year. The HSE may look for evidence that you are legally entitled to live here for at least a year," it said.

Cairde, an Irish organisation which represents the health rights of ethnic minorities and non-EU nationals in Ireland, has met with the Mater Hospital with a view to freezing the charge and will continue to press the matter.