Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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668. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reduce prescription charges (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32202/14]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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691. To ask the Minister for Health the amount collected in prescription charges for medical card prescriptions in 2011, 2012, 2013; and the projected amount to be collected in 2014. [32555/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 691 together.

As announced in Budget 2014, it was necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €619 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.

Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the Health Service Executive or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. There are no plans to amend the prescription charge.

The revenue raised from the prescription charge is as follows:

2011 - €27.604 million

2012 - €29.70 million

2013- €85.60 million

2014 - €120 million (projected)