Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in the context of the recently imposed prescription charges for medical card holders at 50 cent per item up to a maximum of €10 per month, it is the position whereby a person who is the holder of a medical card has to pay the 50 cent charge whilst similar medicine as required by a person is available free on the long term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36298/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Prescription charges do not apply to items supplied to patients under the Long Term Illness Scheme. Medical card holders are required to pay a 50c charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. There are no plans to exempt any other products or categories of patients from the charge.