Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending to reply to this issue, which is medical cards for children with Down's syndrome. I must declare a vested interest in this matter. I am a parent who has a daughter with Down's syndrome who, incidentally, has a medical card. I am also a former chairperson and former treasurer of the Dublin branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

Today, I wish to highlight the children with Down's syndrome who do not have a medical card. What is going on here and why are some children with Down's syndrome included in this scheme while others are excluded? Almost 100 children with Down's syndrome have lost their discretionary medical cards in the last year. The survey carried out by Down Syndrome Ireland showed that many lost their cards despite having various conditions which leave them with very big medical bills. Half of all people with Down's syndrome are born with a heart defect. There are also gastrointestinal conditions commonly associated with Down's syndrome, as are certain types of hearing loss, cancer, cervical spine instability and visual impairment. Most children with Down's syndrome attend weekly speech and language therapy sessions as well, a cost which doubles with the loss of medical cards. Weekly occupational therapy sessions also cost approximately €50 each. Many parents of children with Down's syndrome are also obliged to visit a general practitioner almost weekly to manage their children's medical conditions. This usually costs approximately €65 each visit.

That is the reality for these families and children. Each year approximately 120 children are born in Ireland with Down's syndrome. There are 2,000 children under 16 years of age with the condition, so approximately 1,000 children are at risk and many of them are concerned. Will the Minister of State support these children and their families who are at risk of losing their discretionary medical cards? Will the Minister of State accept the basic principle that all children with Down's syndrome and all children with a recognised disability should have a medical card? Let the Minister of State start his vision of a universal health service today, and start it with these children.

I urge the Minister of State not to make parents jump through hoops. They have enough problems in their lives dealing with these issues. I encountered an example today when a family with a case of very severe physical and intellectual disability contacted me. They have to fight, beg and scream to get their medical card back. This is not acceptable in 2014. Many Government backbenchers share my concerns. Children from Dublin, Cork and Limerick have taken major hits in recent weeks. The Minister must listen to the voices of the parents and advocates of children with Down's syndrome. There are additional costs on doctors as well in respect of fees and prescriptions.

A total of 150 parents have already contacted Down Syndrome Ireland on this issue and appeals are ongoing. On the broader issue, how many of the recent 6,324 discretionary medical cards that were withdrawn were taken from children with Down's syndrome? I ask the Minister of State to support the provision of medical cards to all children with Down's syndrome, as well as other children with disabilities, as a start in implementing his vision of a universal health service.

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