Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 244: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if ileostomy bags will be made available under the long-term illness scheme; and the reason they are not currently available under the scheme. [4243/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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. 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.

Products which are necessary for the management of the specified illness are available to LTI patients. Other products are available according to the patient's eligibility. There are a variety of ileostomy bags included on the list of reimbursable non-drug items for the community drugs schemes.