A number of schemes provide assistance towards the cost of medication to those who do not qualify for a medical card. Under the long-term illness scheme, a person suffering from a number of conditions can obtain without charge the drugs and medicines for the treatment of that condition. Non-medical card holders and those with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme can avail of the drugs payments scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €70 per calendar month towards the costs of approved prescribed medicine. The vast majority of members of the public who do not hold medical cards are entitled to this service. There has been a dramatic increase in the cost structure of the scheme – up by 50% to 60% in terms of volume and expenditure – since the change was introduced in 1999. I will obtain the figures for Members later. Many more have benefited as a result of the changes. For many it represents an important support subsidy of the cost of medication.