Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
636. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health in respect of statements made by Mr. Justice Quirke (details supplied), if he has taken into account that Mr. Justice Quirke also said, that he reproduced the entitlements enjoyed by Health (Amendment) Act cardholders, for the purposes of illustrating the type and extent of the primary and community services, which should be available to the Magdalen women. [37675/15]
View answer637. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he has taken into account Mr. Justice Quirke’s statement in his report, that the Magdalen women should be provided with access to a comprehensive suite of health care services [37676/15]
View answer638. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the health care entitlements under the redress for women resident in central institutions card, could realistically be considered a comprehensive suite of health care services, compared to the standard medical card. [37677/15]
View answer639. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the precise differences between the redress for women resident in central institutions card and the standard medical card. [37678/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 639, inclusive, together.
In Annexe G of his report, Judge Quirke reproduced the Health Amendment Act (HAA) description of services for the purposes of illustrating the type and extent of the primary and community services which he recommended should be available to the Magdalen women. He found that the health status of Magdalen women was diverse in nature, that not all the HAA services might be directly relevant to the Magdalen women and that any comparable set of services for the Magdalen women would require suitable adaptation.
Judge Quirke specified what the suite of services should be - GP services, prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances, dental, ophthalmic, aural, home support, home nursing, counselling, chiropody and physiotherapy services. Under the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015, all of the primary and community health services made available free of charge from 1 July 2015 to Magdalen women in Ireland are as specified by Judge Quirke.
Judge Quirke recommended, the women are eligible for a greater range of services than those provided under the standard medical card. The Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act provides a statutory basis to more services than the medical card, e.g., physiotherapy, chiropody, counselling and home support. Moreover, a participant in the scheme can chose a private GP or chose a GP who has a contract with the HSE. With regard to dental services, participants are categorised as high risk/priority patients and are entitled to a greater range of services than those provided under the standard medical card. The enhanced care provided to them is not limited to services currently available under the Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) but includes the wider range of services which were available prior to 2010. In addition, the prescription fee is not be payable for all medicines, medical devices or other medical products that are reimbursed by the community drug schemes.
