Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1455. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Autoimmune Hepatitis is not on the long-term illness scheme. [26254/16]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1456. To ask the Minister for Health when the list for the long-term illness scheme will be updated. [26255/16]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1457. To ask the Minister for Health when the list for the long-term illness scheme was last updated. [26256/16]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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1458. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Ankylosing Spondylitis is not on the list for the long-term illness scheme. [26257/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1455 to 1458, inclusive, together.

The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 prescribing the 16 conditions that are covered by the LTI Scheme: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

The list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme has not changed since 1975. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme.