Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Health further to his earlier commitment to abolish the fifty cent charge on prescription medications payable by medical card holders, his plans for meeting this commitment; when the charge will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29836/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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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. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. 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. Prescription charges result in savings to the Health Service Executive of approximately €27 million annually. I regret that due to the current financial climate, I am not in a position to remove the 50c prescription charge, one of my goals on entering office.