James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Medical cardholders are required to pay a 50 cent charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the long-term illness scheme. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the methadone treatment scheme.

Prescription charges result in savings to the HSE of approximately €27 million annually. I regret that, due to the current financial climate, I am not in a position to remove the 50 cent prescription charge, one of my goals on entering office. However, despite the very difficult budgetary situation, the Government has ruled out an increase in prescription charges.

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