Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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2400.To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold to €50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32868/24]

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.

The estimated full year cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €50 is €66m.

These costings do not take account of demographic changes, changes in eligibility (e.g., loss of medical cards), or how the reductions in the DPS threshold may impact claimant behaviour.