Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Written Answers. - Long-Term Illness Scheme.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

1130 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will include the late effects of polio on the long-term illness scheme; if he will ensure that such individuals are eligible regardless of means to a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16616/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Provision of health services to people with physical and sensory disabilities, including those with post-polio syndrome, is a matter for the health boards. The boards provide a range of support services to enable people with physical and sensory disabilities to live as independently as possible within the community. This includes residential respite care, day care, home support and personal assistance services, nursing, therapy, counselling and family support, aids and appliances. Specialised residential care services are also provided.

Significant additional funding of over €179 million has been provided by the Government since 1997. This level of funding is indicative of the Government's ongoing commitment to the provision of quality services and includes: approximately €35 million for aids and appliances; approximately €76 million for the development of services, including residential, respite, home support and personal assistance and therapy services; €36 million for capital projects; a significant proportion of the remainder allocated in support of voluntary sector service providers.

People suffering from one of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, may obtain drugs and medicines without charge for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness (under 16 only), phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, Parkinsonism and acute leukaemia.

People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determin ing eligibility, the chief executive officer has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Health boards use income guidelines to assist in determining eligibility. However, a medical card may be awarded where a person's income exceeds the guidelines if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.

Non-medical card holders, and people with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme, can use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €65 a month for approved prescribed medicines.

There are no proposals at present to extend the long-term illness scheme or automatic eligibility for medical cards to people affected by post polio syndrome.