asked the Minister for Health the arrangements he has made to meet the urgent needs of the victims of the Stardust fire in respect of the payment of medical expenses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Artane (Dublin) Fire Disaster.
6.
All of the victims of the Stardust fire who received or are receiving hospital treatment are receiving services free of charge.
Free transport by taxi was provided for the injured who have to return to out-patients departments of hospitals for continuing treatment.
With regard to other medical expenses, some of those injured already held medical cards, which entitles them to a general medical practitioner service and medicines free of charge. A further 45 persons have since been supplied with medical cards. In general, every effort is being made to facilitate those injured in the fire.
Will the Minister repeat in this House the undertaking he gave on radio immediately after the fire to the effect that all medical expenses would be met by his Department for victims of the Stardust fire?
I certainly could from the statement I made. Finally, lest any of those who are undergoing treatment as a result of the accident in the Stardust are concerned about the cost of such treatment, let me reassure them on this point. The vast majority of these patients, if not all, will be eligible for completely free hospital services under the Health Acts. But, if there are any of them who are not, and the cost of whose treatment is not met by other agencies such as the Voluntary Health Insurance Board, the Government will take steps to ensure that they personally will not fall liable for any costs they may incur in the course of the hospital treatment they are receiving.
Could the Minister tell the House under what legislation he will provide money to meet all the medical expenses of the victims who may not be covered by existing schemes?
As it transpires, all the patients are covered so the problem does not seem to arise.
The last thing the Minister said to me was that the majority, if not all, were covered, from which I take it that he simply does not know whether or not all are covered. Can the Minister clarify the situation? Under what legislation will he provide money to meet the expenses of anybody who may not be covered?
The statement I made was made after someone had suggested to the media that there might be costs and services which would not be covered. In that context at that time I made that statement to reassure those involved. The phrase "if not all" applied at the time. It does not apply at this time to my knowledge. Our services cover all the patients.
A very brief final supplementary question from Deputy Cluskey.
The Minister seems to be unsure whether or not all the victims receiving medical treatment are covered by existing legislation. In the event of any of the victims not being covered by existing legislation, under what legal provision will the Minister make their expenses available to them?
I want to clarify the point that I am not the one who is unsure. Deputy Horgan was unsure about a statement made at the time of the accident. The Health Acts cover all the patients so the problem does not arise.
Ceist 7.