Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 284: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason thousands of persons are failing to avail of the benefit for long-term illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40350/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 291: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to extend the long-term illness scheme to persons who have life long chronic illnesses which require regular expensive medication for life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40412/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 291 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 GP 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 currently no plans to extend the list of eligible conditions.

The Health Service Executive is responsible for assessing the eligibility of applicants for the LTI. Once accepted into the scheme, it is a matter for each patient to avail of the benefits of the scheme.

The medical card, GMS, and drugs payment, DPS, 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. In November 2004, the Government provided funding for an additional 30,000 medical cards, and for 200,000 new GP visit cards, which allow holders to receive general practitioner services free of charge. In June last year, I simplified the means test for both medical 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 and GP visit cards would be increased by an additional 20%. This means the income guidelines are now 29% higher than prior to these measures.

Non-medical card holders, and people with conditions not covered under the LTI, can use the DPS. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €85 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.