Written answers

Tuesday, 8 November 2005

Department of Health and Children

Health Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of children in the mid-western area on the waiting list to access speech and language therapy; and the length of time a child may be on the list. [32636/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 263: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if patients undergoing urostmy operations will be allowed to receive without charge drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances under the long-term illness scheme in view of the fact that for many this condition is permanent and cannot be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32648/05]

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 280: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the free drugs scheme to include crohns disease; and if she will make this a priority issue as it has not been updated since 1970. [32890/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 280 together.

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 LTI does not cover general practitioner fees or hospital co-payments. 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. There are no plans to extend the list of eligible conditions.

The medical card and drugs payment schemes provide assistance towards the cost of approved drugs and medicines for people with significant ongoing medical expenses. People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Non-medical card holders and people with conditions not covered under the LTI can use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €85 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. In November 2004 I announced that from 1 January 2005 income guidelines to be used for assessments of full eligibility to medical cards would be increased by 7.5% with the objective of issuing an additional 30,000 medical cards. At that time, I also announced my intention to introduce 200,000 GP visit cards which would allow the holders of these cards to receive general practitioner services free of charge.

In June I simplified the means test for medical cards and GP visit cards. It is now based on an applicant's and spouse's income after income tax and PRSI and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child care and travel to work. On 13 October 2005, I announced that the income guidelines for both medical cards and GP visit cards would be increased by an additional 20%. This means the income guidelines are now 29% higher than this time last year.

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