Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will extend the provision of free glasses to children in post-primary schools (details supplied). [33368/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under Section 67 of the Health Act, 1970, the children eligible for Health Service Executive (HSE) ophthalmic services are pre-school and national school children in respect of defects noted at child health examinations. Child health examinations are provided by the HSE to children attending national school in accordance with Section 66 of the Health Act, 1970.

I have no plans to extend ophthalmic services for children beyond those detailed above. The Deputy may wish to note, however, that children who are medical card holders or who are dependants of medical card holders continue to be eligible for ophthalmic services.

The Deputy's question also relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.