I raise the issue of the HSE removing certain medications from the medical card list. One of my constituents is on Allegron, which is a medication for anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, she began to suffer from her condition due to having had an anaesthetic. This woman has very limited means and the product costs her €43 per month. The HSE is consistently taking products off the medical card list. What is the justification for this, and can the decision relating to the medication in question be reversed?

I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this matter. As he knows, the Government does not get directly involved in those matters of detail for which the HSE is responsible. We do, however, understand the importance of the issue when this happens for a patient who has been receiving medication under the medical card scheme. We have taken note of the specific issue raised by the Deputy, and the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, having consulted with the HSE in order to see what can be done in this regard, will respond to him.