Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 614: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the needs of Irish thalidomide survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29273/12]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 631: To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been achieved towards meeting the health and social needs of thalidomide survivors in view of meetings that have taken place between his Department and representatives of victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29329/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 631 together.

I met with the Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) and the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society (ITSS) last year and informed both organisations that the Government's main concern is to address their health and social care needs. The first step in this process is to identify the needs of each individual. The Department is currently working with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and members of one of the representative groups, the ITSS, to develop an appropriate assessment process. The ITA is unwilling to engage with me in this process. The ITSS has recently written to the HSE regarding the extent and scope of the assessment process.

Some major issues raised by the ITSS, including an independent agency, housing, heating and transport are unfortunately outside my Department's remit. I have written to the ITSS requesting them, in good faith, to continue to engage with the HSE in developing a health care assessment process. This would include appointment and training of a multidisciplinary team and a multidisciplinary health evaluation that would identify and document the health needs/issues of survivors. It would also include plans to address agreed health care needs/issues. The process and its outcome will provide information which will assist us in addressing the future health care needs of Irish survivors of thalidomide.