asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the concern of parents and guardians of mentally handicapped children who as a result of a national school medical examination at present receive institutional care free of charge, where this is certified to be necessary; and that under the terms of the Health Bill it is proposed to withdraw this benefit; and if in view of the great concern of parents and guardians he will review the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Handicapped Children.
6.
There is no cause for concern on this matter. At present, eligibility for care of a mentally handicapped child at the cost of a health authority depends primarily on whether or not the parent is in the lower- or middle-income group. A child of a higher-income group parent is ineligible except where the defect is discovered at a school health examination and such examinations are, of course, only held for pupils of national schools.
This limited form of entitlement for higher-income group children will be discontinued under the Health Bill. However, a broader liability for the care of mentally handicapped children whose parents are in the higher-income group can be assigned to health boards under section 51 (2) of the Bill. The effect of this would be to benefit the higher-income group, as eligibility will no longer be limited by the artificial factor of the circumstances of the discovery of the handicap.
Can the Minister say that there will be no gap between the cessation of one scheme and the introduction of the other in respect of these children?
There will be no gap. The regulations will provide that there will be no gap. The long-term defects will be specifically mentioned and various conditions such as cystic fibrosis and haemophilia and so on will all be mentioned including long-term mental handicap.
They will all continue to get the same treatment.