Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the services available to young and disabled children, who have a long-term illness card, when they are out of hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9349/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Children with the following diseases or disabilities: mental handicap, mental illness, phenylketyonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, haemophilia and cerebal palsy are exempt from hospital inpatient charges.

Outside of hospital, people with a long-term illness may be entitled to free drugs and medicines. Under the 1970 Health Act, the Health Service Executive may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition through the long term-illness scheme, LTI. The conditions are: mental handicap, mental illness — for people under 16 only — phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism, conditions arising from thalidomide and acute leukaemia. Parkinsonism, acute leukaemia, muscular dystrophies and multiple sclerosis were added to the scheme in 1975.