Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Health the cost in 2017 of a €1 reduction in prescription charges. [19038/16]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Health the cost in 2017 of a €10 reduction in the drug threshold. [19039/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together.

I intend to consider these matters in the context of the commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government to significantly reduce the cost of medicines, having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures. Detailed costings will be required as part of this process, in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer.

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore these matters have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up these matters with them.