David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1196. To ask the Minister for Health if the budgeted reduction of the monthly threshold for the drug payment scheme from €124 to €114 is to take place in 2020; if not, if it will be budgeted for 2021; if further reductions are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21562/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Budget 2020, the previous Government announced two measures intended to reduce the cost of medicines:

- GMS prescription charges would be reduced by €0.50c for all medical card holders. The charge would be reduced by €0.50c to €1 per item for the over 70s and by €0.50c to €1.50 for persons under 70. The maximum monthly charge would also be reduced to €10 and €15 respectively.

- The monthly threshold of €124 for the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) would be reduced by €10 to €114 per household.

The funding of these measures was predicated on the achievement of corresponding savings in the health budget in 2020. It has not been possible to achieve these savings to date and therefore I am not in a position at present to progress the changes to prescription charges. I will keep this matter under review in the light of the funding available to the health service in 2020 and 2021.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1197. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drug payment scheme threshold from €124 to €100 and from €114 to €100, respectively. [21563/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.