Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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391. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the recommendations of the Heldelbery study into the survivors of thalidomide have not been implemented here; and his proposals for same [21279/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Heidelberg Study is a survey of nearly 900 German survivors of thalidomide, carried out by the University of Heidelberg on behalf of the German Thalidomide Foundation. The report identifies the individual's deterioration in health, their increasing loss of independence and an increased requirement for supports and assistance including medical services, aids and appliances, environmental adaptations, transport.

The Department of Health commissioned a report from the State Claims Agency in 2010 which recommended additional financial and other supports to Irish survivors of thalidomide. The offer was rejected by Irish survivors of thalidomide.

31 Irish thalidomide survivors currently received financial support from the German Foundation and the Irish State. Combining the Irish and German payments, most individuals receive over €2,500 per month, or €575 per week, tax free. Each Irish thalidomide survivor has a medical card and it is open to each individual to apply for the numerous public supports available to people with a disability provided by other Departments such as housing adaptation grants, disabled drivers tax concessions and disability allowance.