Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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2402.To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2025 of reducing prescription charges to €1 per item with a cap of €10 for all, or to 50 cent per item with a cap of €5 for all; the estimated overall cost of abolishing the charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32870/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Prescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010. On 1 November 2020, prescription charges were reduced as follows:

• For those aged over 70, €1 per item with a maximum charge of €10 per month.
• For those aged under 70, €1.50 per item with a maximum charge of €15 per month.

The estimated full year cost of abolishing all prescription charges is €95.2m.

This costing does not take account of changes in demographics or in eligibility numbers (i.e., changes in the number of medical card holders). It also does not take account of how a reduction in prescription charges may impact on claimant behaviour.