Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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227. To ask the Minister for Health if, with reference to the Health Services (Amendment) Regulations 1971, which prescribe diseases and conditions for the purposes of section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970, he will amend the offensive terminology employed therein to define a recognised condition (details supplied) and replace the term with the correct and acceptable term of intellectual disability; his view on the fact that the current legitimacy of the offending term as provided for by the regulations and as demonstrated by its continued usage on the application form for the long term illness scheme, continues to cause much upset and offence to both those who have an intellectual disability and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29165/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The term "mental handicap" as used on the Long Term Illness Scheme application form reflects the wording used in the Health Act 1970, as amended by S.I. No. 277/1971 - Health Services (Amendment) Regulations 1971, under which the scheme was introduced.

Officials in my Department are seeking advice as to whether legislation will be required to amend the wording on the LTI application form.