On the programme for Government and in keeping with the confidence and supply agreement, we very much welcome the extension of the roll out of discretionary medical cards to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. However, a review of the prescription drugs prescribed to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowances is needed, as some of those drugs are not covered under this scheme. One such drug is melatonin, which I am advised is very important for those children suffering from this condition. I ask the Minister to have a review carried out to have this drug included. On foot of a question I tabled to the Department, the HSE came back and said that it would not include it, yet I have been told by experts in the medical field and by parents that this is a drug that needs to be included.

I will ask the Minister for Health to look at that. My understanding is that in any such case of a drug being presented there is research undertaken, I believe by the Health Research Board, HRB, to establish the health efficacy of the drug and the price for which it should be procured if it is effective. That results in negotiations, where it is proven effective, between the company and the Health Service Executive, HSE. I do not know the status of this but every new drug is assessed on a fair basis to ensure it is cost effective to introduce into the health service.