3120. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to include type 2 diabetes as an illness under the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59583/26]

3168. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the criteria used to determine whether a medical condition is included in the long-term illness scheme; whether the lifelong nature of a condition, or the need for ongoing medication and specialist monitoring, are considered as part of that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59718/26]

3197. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health whether chronic hepatitis B will be formally assessed for inclusion in the long-term illness scheme; when the list of qualifying conditions was last clinically reviewed; and what criteria are used to add conditions to the scheme. [60339/26]

3269. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if chronic hepatitis B will be formally assessed for inclusion in the long-term illness scheme; whether there are plans to review its eligibility for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59711/26]

3270. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health when the list of conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme was last clinically reviewed; whether a further review is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59715/26]

3345. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will consider a review of the long-term illness scheme criteria, particularly for hepatitis B management and medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60035/26]

3525. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given for the inclusion of chronic hepatitis B in the long-term illness scheme (LTIS); when the list of qualifying conditions for the LTIS was last clinically reviewed; the criteria used to add conditions to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60597/26]

3727. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if her Department will consider adding lymphoedema to the list of conditions covered by the long term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62497/26]

3814. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason asthma is currently excluded from the long-term illness scheme; when the list of qualifying conditions was last formally reviewed on clinical grounds; whether her Department has assessed the cost of including chronic or moderate-to-severe asthma; whether the Minister intends to review or expand the qualifying conditions; and if there are no plans to include asthma, the clinical or policy rationale supports its continued exclusion. [63062/26]

3864. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the date on which the list of conditions covered by the long term illness scheme under section 59 of the Health Act 1970 was last amended; whether any review of that list has been undertaken by her Department since that date; whether consideration has been given to the inclusion of asthma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63196/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3120, 3168, 3197, 3269, 3270, 3345, 3525, 3727, 3814 and 3864 together.

The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions to be covered by the Scheme. Further information, including the list of conditions, can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/lti/about/.

Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.

Individuals and families in Ireland may be entitled to the following schemes:

• General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme (medical card). Eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.

• In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.

• Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.

The issue of granting medical card eligibility based on having a particular disability or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.