409 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will reply to correspondence of 14 January 2002, concerning medical cards for the over 70's, which has been acknowledged only on 21 January 2002. [12015/02]

The outstanding information was received from the Eastern Regional Health Authority yesterday. It indicates that 23 general practitioners have been formally accepted into the GMS scheme and 24 others have lodged applications which are either being reviewed or are being processed at present.

410 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has taken action to assist those with Huntingdon's disease, particularly in relation to medical cards which should be available automatically to sufferers. [12018/02]

At present, there are no proposals to extend automatic eligibility to medical cards to people affected by Huntingdon's disease. However, 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 determining eligibility, the chief executive officer has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Health boards use income guidelines to assist in determining eligibility. However, where a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may be awarded 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.

Persons suffering from any of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, may obtain without charge drugs and medicines for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness – for persons under 16 years only – phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism and acute leukaemia. There are no plans to extend the long-term illness scheme to include persons with Huntingdon's disease. Non-medical card holders and people with conditions not covered under the scheme can use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €53.33 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.

Question No. 411 answered with Question No. 383.

412 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow has been on the Eastern Health Board waiting list for orthodontic treatment; when this person will receive this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12030/02]

Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.