asked the Minister for Health if he will include coeliac disease in the list of long-term illnesses.

The extension of the list of long-term illnesses to include coeliac disease and other conditions has been considered. However, because of the costs involved it is not proposed to extend the list at present. The scheme will, of course, be kept under review.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that gluten-free food is a very costly item now and creates quite a hardship for those unfortunate people suffering from coeliac disease? Would he ask the health boards to take such hardship into consideration?

My information is that all the health boards take into consideration all cases where the cost of gluten-free food products is a hardship. I will have a chat with the CEO of the Southern Health Board in that regard. Like the Deputy, those people have my full sympathy.

Approximately 15,000 people in this country suffer from coeliac disease and I do not think it could create any great hardship on the public purse to provide some service to help those unfortunate people.

We are having a statement from the Deputy instead of a question.

In reply to the Deputy, it might be of interest to him to know that the cost is regarded as £500,000 per annum.