Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 September 2012
209. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason coeliac food is no longer included for medical card holders; the reason the relevant families were not informed that this cut was being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39682/12]
View answer210. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health in view of the recent cuts for families with coeliac dietary requirements, if he will consider applying the tax back incentive to persons who do not work as well as persons who do work, in view of the fact that unemployed persons will now find it very difficult to supply all the necessary food, or if he will consider increasing the dietary allowance that is paid to families. [39683/12]
View answer213. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the Health Service Executive to reconsider the recent initiative which saw up to 16,000 medical card holders who have coeliac disease no longer able to use their cards to buy gluten-free products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39721/12]
View answer251. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that coeliac sufferers will be able to continue, as they have done in the past, to avail of this necessary food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39867/12]
View answer260. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce an alternative scheme for persons on special diets like coeliac patients who due to the recent cuts announced by the Health Service Executive will no longer be entitled to free or subsidised gluten free food products for their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39945/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210, 213, 251 and 260 together.
In the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of reimbursable items. This includes gluten-free products.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf. Separate application forms are available for children. For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, monies spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.
