Vol. 197 No. 3
asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that the Medical Research Council of Ireland is at present having a census carried out of the number of children born deformed in this country; and that this census will also give the number of deformed children born as a result of the use of the drug thalidomide; and whether his Department will undertake any scheme to aid these children and their parents, and to help the rehabilitation of these children.
5.
asked the Minister for Health if he can state the number of cases affected by thalidomide in the country; and if it is intended to compensate the victims who have reacted to this preparation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
In October, 1960, I authorised the payment of a special annual grant for a period of four years from the Hospitals Trust Fund to the Medical Research Council of Ireland to finance an investigation into the incidence of congenital malformations in infants born in Dublin city. The investigation is proceeding.
Earlier this year, I approached the Medical Research Council with a request that they should, as a matter of urgency, extend the scope of this survey to provide information—so far as is practicable—as to the number of babies born in each health authority area with deformities which might be ascribed to the consumption by expectant mothers of thalidomide. The Council agreed readily to undertake this further project, and the work is now proceeding. I am advised that a special report on this aspect of the general problem will be available to me in about two months' time, but that present indications are that the size of the problem here is relatively small.
In the meantime, at my request, the question of the facilities which are needed to deal with the problem, including highly specialised artificial limb fitting, is being considered by the National Organisation for Rehabilitation. The organisation are actively engaged in devising appropriate arrangements.
I presume that Deputy Sir Anthony Esmonde, in his question, used the word "compensation" loosely in the sense of making appropriate facilities available and not in its more usual sense. Assistance in availing of the facilities provided will, of course, be given in accordance with the terms of the Health Acts, under which as Deputies are aware, services can be provided free or at subsidised rates for those within the eligible limits and for hardship cases outside those limits.
