40 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children in view of her decision to exempt persons who hold long-term illness cards from the prescription fee, if she will make arrangements that persons who hold both medical cards and long-term illness cards, who are now being forced to acquire their long-term medication under the general medical service scheme, should continue to be exempt from the prescription charge on these items. [4190/11]

With effect from the 1 October, medical card holders are required to pay a 50c charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. I have asked my Department to make enquiries of the HSE with regard to the practice referred to by the Deputy.