The Minister for Health recently signed legislation to allow the operation of the medicinal cannabis access programme on a pilot basis for five years. Unfortunately, some of those who have a licence for medicinal cannabis in Ireland still have to go through hoops to get reimbursed for the costs of the prescription. Parents are exhausted caring for children with special and exceptional needs. One family in Waterford, the Kehoes, are having to jump through hoops to try and get this payment made. We welcome the fact that this access programme is up and running but there are still some teething problems. I would appreciate the Tánaiste raising this matter with the Minister for Health.

Deputy Cullinane has a similar question. I ask him to be brief.

I want to reinforce the comments Deputy Butler made. Deputy Gino Kenny will also be raising this issue. We have all been contacted by this family. Some weeks ago the Minister for Health was helpful regarding the case of a different family in Waterford who had a similar problem concerning their child and getting money back under the compassionate access programme. These are children with severe epilepsy. The consultants in the hospital in Waterford, as well as the general practitioners, GPs, are recommending cannabis-based oil treatment. It is necessary for them to go to Holland and elsewhere to get the money but they are not being reimbursed. The family last week was reimbursed but this family has not been. This is the Kehoe family as Deputy Butler mentioned. I ask that the HSE look at this matter in a compassionate way.

We finally had some good news last week concerning the medical cannabis access programme. This issue stems from a situation with the primary care reimbursement service. It is an arbitrary and, at worst, highly invidious system. Two weeks ago I raised with the Taoiseach issues being experienced by two families. I am referring to the Kelly and Stevens families. It is no coincidence that they were reimbursed the next day. It was because they had been forced to go public. The family whose situation we are concerned with today also has a heavy financial burden to bear. They can afford the costs of treatment for their child, Killian, in the short term but not in the long term. It is important that the Government intervenes.

I would be concerned if families were getting the supports they need solely because individual families have had to go public and get Deputies in this House to raise-----

It is true.

I am not saying that it does not happen but it should not happen like that.

I know but it is true.

This access programme is very new. It is only a couple of weeks old and the guidelines are only beginning to be understood by families and doctors. I am sure there will initially be issues that we need to address, perhaps politically. We want, however, to try to get to a point where families are getting the services, supports, and access to the treatments they need without having to publicly appeal for support. That is certainly what the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, is working on. I will, however, relay this particular issue to him.