John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that the benefits are to be extended to self-employed people, including the dental and optical benefits. I urge the Minster to examine this area further, in particular, because there is a serious problem in regard to chiropodists. There is no scheme to cover people who might have difficulties, for example, people who might have diabetes. Some people might not have a medical card but having access to a chiropodist could help to identify problems early on. This would allow them to get the necessary treatment that would ultimately save the State considerable amounts of money in the long term because of the impact in respect of cost of care and hospital treatment, etc. The Minister should consider extending the scheme to cover chiropody. This would allow people under a scheme to have problems identified early on. I urge the Minster to consider this area, if not for this Bill, then perhaps for next year. Ultimately, it would save the State considerable amounts of money and I urge the Minister to examine the matter.