Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1202. To ask the Minister for Health further to parliamentary question number 227 of 6 October 2016, the reason for the delay in amending the application form for the long term illness scheme in order to replace offensive terminology used to define a recognised condition under the scheme; his views on whether legislative changes are required to complete this action; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the approved medication section of the LTI scheme web page on the HSE's website has also to be changed to reflect the HSE's usage of the more appropriate term of intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27256/17]

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 S.I. No. 277/1971 - Health Services (Amendment) Regulations 1971, which prescribed conditions to which the scheme applies.

Officials in my Department have sought legal advice in relation to amending the wording on the LTI application form. This process is ongoing and the Deputy's concerns are being considered in that context.