Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to discuss the criteria for qualifying for the long-term illness card. A number of families across Galway city and county have raised this issue with me. As we are aware, the diseases and disabilities covered by the scheme include epilepsy, diabetes, spina bifida and a number of others.

I wish to raise the fact that Crohn's disease is not covered by the long-term illness scheme. That is a huge issue, about which a number of families have made representations to me. As most Members will be aware, it is a very sickening and difficult disease of the bowel that can lead to colon and bowel cancer. It puts huge stress on families due to medical costs because it is not covered by the scheme.

I acknowledge and welcome the recent reduction in the maximum payment rate in the drugs payment scheme, from €120 to €80 per month, which is a help, but for an awful lot of families it is a substantial amount of money. Will the Deputy Leader ask the Minister for Health to come before the House to explain why a sickening disease such as Crohn's disease is not part of the criteria for qualifying for the illness card? Hopefully, we can come to a resolution and have Crohn's disease included in the scheme. That would assist many families throughout Galway county and city.