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

I am representing the Minister and I will respond accordingly. I will respond to the particular issues. As of 9 December 2016, legal proceedings against the Minister for Health, the Health Service Executive and GlaxoSmithKline Biological have been initiated by 51 individuals. The plaintiffs allege personal injury and claim the development of narcolepsy resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. Legal advice obtained by the Department recommended delegation of the management of these cases and any subsequent similar cases to the State Claims Agency. A Government decision to give effect to this approach was obtained in October and allowed the Taoiseach to refer the matter to the National Treasury Management Agency on 15 October. The management of these cases has been transferred to the State Claims Agency.

The funding issue is important. Total payments in 2015 amounted to €55,189.32. The average payment made was €551.89. The largest single payment made was €7,488, which was for college accommodation expenses. Other expenses being reimbursed include expenses for GP visits, hospital charges, prescription charges and, prior to a medical card being issues based on the diagnosis of narcolepsy, consultant visits, dental costs, complementary therapies, travel costs, overnight accommodation and counselling, including family counselling. In some cases the HSE has also reimbursed third level accommodation costs, home tuition costs, rental arrears to the local authority, gym membership and child care costs.

The Deputy asked a question related to the funding of €1.6 million. I do not have the answer before me but I will come back with the answer to Deputy D'Arcy.

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