Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
475. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made on the provision of an administrative scheme, under her Department, to assist Magdalen laundries survivors in availing of complementary therapies. [11581/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, which was passed by the Oireachtas earlier this month, makes special provision for free access to health services for women who were resident in Magdalen Laundries and similar institutions. The services being provided are precisely those recommended by Judge Quirke.
Judge Quirke made no comment, one way or another, on 'Complementary therapies'. Complementary and alternative medicine includes a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine, and they are not part of the routine system of provision in the public health system. In the absence of clear evidence on the efficacy or safety of these treatments, my colleague, the Minister for Health, has reservations about such therapies being provided and funded through the health service and, for that reason, they were not included in the Bill.
On a personal level, I am open to the benefits that may be brought to people by such 'complementary therapies'. For that reason, I have asked my officials to look at the question of providing some funding to the women concerned so that they may avail of such 'Complementary therapies'. This would be a separate scheme run on an administrative rather than a statutory basis.
As the Deputy will also be aware, the provision of medical services is just one of a wider package of supports for these women. The women also receive lump sum payments of between €11,500 and €100,000 depending on their length of stay in a relevant institution. So far, 512 women have received their lump sums payments at a cost of over €18.7m. The women also receive top up pension type payments from the Department of Social Protection.
