Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The treatment benefit scheme in the Department of Social Protection provides important dental, optical and oral services to a range of different people. We heard from Amber Women's Refuge service and Safe Ireland in Leinster House 2000 this morning. One of the matters they raised relates to the practical effect of having to get consent for a qualified adult in order to get those treatments and, in particular, the impact on somebody who may be in a violent or coercive relationship having to obtain consent from the partner in order to receive the benefit of those schemes. I wonder if this matter could be raised with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys, in order that we might try to address any barriers that may be faced by victims in the context of receiving treatment.

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