Thalidomide Victim Compensation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2013

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Ceisteanna (480)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

480. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 651 of 12 March 2013, the timeline involved in his proposal to provide health care protocol to the survivors of Thalidomide involving the appointment and training of a multi-disciplinary team, identifying and documenting their healthcare needs and developing plans to address those needs; the reason he has not engaged with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the specific accommodation needs of some survivors, that is, housing adaptation and so on, as part of a holistic approach as suggested by the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14211/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has developed a health care protocol for Irish survivors of Thalidomide which envisages the identification and documentation of survivors' health care needs and the development of plans to address those needs, following an evaluation by a trained, multi-disciplinary team. The Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society has stated that it is not willing to engage with this process. Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of a means tested Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, which can assist people with a physical. sensory or intellectual disability or mental health difficulty to make changes and adaptations to their home to make it more suitable in which to live.