Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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656. To ask the Minister for Health when prescription charges will be reduced for medical card holders and persons over 70 years of age as per measures announced in budget 2020; the reason for the delay in the implementation of the budgetary measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23345/20]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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711. To ask the Minister for Health when the promised reduction in prescription fees for persons over 70 years of age will be introduced. [23578/20]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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757. To ask the Minister for Health when the proposed reduction in prescription charges will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23841/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 656, 711 and 757 together.

Budget 2020 provided for a number of measures to reduce the cost of medicines for the general public including a €0.50c reduction in prescription charges for medical card holders.

This would have represented a reduction of €0.50c to €1 per item for persons aged over 70 years, and a reduction of €0.50c to €1.50 for persons under 70.  The intention was that the maximum monthly charge would also be reduced to €10 for the over 70’s and to €15 for the under 70’s.  

Although it was intended that these measures would be implemented from July, funding of this Budget 2020 commitment was contingent on the achievement of certain savings within the health budget. 

However, these savings have not been achieved as the Pandemic has placed a significant demand on public finances, a substantial proportion of which has been allocated to the health system. In that context, decisions on the associated funding and a potential implementation date are being actively considered.