Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.

The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:

•From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.

•From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.

Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for people with ongoing expenditure on medicines.

The below table shows both the minimum cost and the likely cost of reducing the DPS in increments of €10. This data is based on the claiming month April 2023 (c. 125,000 claimants).

It is important to note that the minimum costing excludes the cost for individuals who are currently below the current DPS threshold level of €80 per month, and who would become eligible for the DPS were the threshold reduced. It also excludes the impact resulting from an ageing demographic or from the loss of medical charge eligibility.