Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
217. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the additional benefits over those of the 'ordinary medical card' that accrue if a person is in possession of an 'enhanced medical card', as proposed by the Survivors of Institutional Abuse Bill 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20713/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 provides for the delivery of a range of health supports and services to survivors of abuse in residential institutions. This is the same package of supports as that which has been provided to survivors of the Magdalen Laundries under the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 and which is currently being extended under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.
This ensures the provision, without charge or means test, 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.
It therefore provides a statutory entitlement to a broader range of services than under the standard medical card, e.g. physiotherapy and chiropody/podiatry. In addition, those eligible for the package do not have to pay prescription charges, have access to an enhanced range of dental services and can attend a GP of choice, once that GP is registered.
