Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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848. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing prescription charges for medical card holders over one, two, three, four and five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10313/16]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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852. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing prescription charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 848 and 852 together.

I am informed by the HSE that prescription charges for medical card holders yielded an estimated €116 million in 2015. Therefore, the cost of abolishing prescription charges at current activity levels is approximately €120 million. The annual cost of abolishing this charge on an incremental basis would depend on the extent of the adjustment to be made in any particular year.

This is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures. Detailed financial analysis will be required in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.