Seanad debates
Wednesday, 12 February 2003
Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Second Stage.
The dormant accounts fund disbursements will not be the responsibility of the Department of Finance. There are broad definitions in the legislation which do not provide great detail. I wish to suggest two areas where it would be socially worthwhile to provide moneys from the fund. The suggestions arise from problems brought to my attention in recent weeks. There are a limited number of medical cases involving rare conditions, the treatment of which is expensive and may have to be undertaken abroad. However, the cost is beyond the capacity of the individual and would also distort health board budgets. If somebody needs, for example, €250,000 for a certain treatment and they are one of half a dozen people in the country with the condition, it presents acute dilemmas for health boards. How does one weigh up one person's case against alternative uses under which many can be treated? There is a need for some type of fund or source of money for the small number of rare cases which require expensive treatment.
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