Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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347. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his plans to include Crohn's disease in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29616/17]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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402. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Crohn’s disease is not listed on the long-term illness scheme under section 59 of the Health Act 1970; if he will consider it for addition to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29999/17]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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403. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the way in which a new condition is added to the long-term illness scheme under section 59 of the Health Act 1970; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30000/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 347, 402 and 403 together.

The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: 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 LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.