Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
324. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether those who were in “mother and baby homes” will be automatically entitled to dental, chiropody, homecare services and counselling as part of the compensation package for survivors of the homes; if they are, how will the services be delivered and how can they be accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11353/24]
View answer325. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when financial compensation will be paid to the survivors of the “mother and baby” homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11354/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will open for applications on 20 March.
A dedicated webpage is now live at www.gov.ie/paymentscheme, which contains information on how people will be able to apply to the Payment Scheme, and what information applicants will need. Once the Scheme opens, the Payment Scheme Office will process all applications as quickly as possible, with the first payments expected to be made in Quarter 2 of this year.
The Scheme provides for financial payments and health supports for eligible persons. The legislation that underpins the Scheme provides that a person who spent at least 180 days as a mother or child in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution, as listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, is eligible for the health supports in the form of an enhanced medical card.
It is intended that the enhanced medical card will ensure the provision, without charge, of the following primary and community health services for those eligible:
• GP services;
• prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances
• dental, ophthalmic and aural services;
• home nursing;
• home support;
• counselling;
• chiropody/podiatry; and
• physiotherapy.
As well as the above services, it is intended that cardholders will not be required to pay the €100 Emergency Department statutory charge.
Those who are living outside of Ireland will have the choice of opting for an enhanced medical card or a once off health support payment.
The Payment Scheme Executive Office will notify the HSE if an applicant is eligible for the enhanced medical card and the HSE will provide the card to the applicant and will be responsible for making the services available to them.
