Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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253. To ask the Minister for Health the reason redress for women resident in certain institutions cardholders are not given priority for counselling services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36870/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Eligibility for health services for the Magdalen women is provided by the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 which sets out the primary and community health services available in Ireland, free of charge, effective from 1 July 2015. The services are as follows: GP services; prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances; dental, ophthalmic and aural services; home nursing; home support; chiropody; physiotherapy; and counselling. Under the legislation, all of the primary and community health services being made available to Magdalen women are as specified by Judge Quirke.

Counselling is provided across the health service, by both the HSE and the voluntary sector including primary care, social care and within mental health. Counselling is available to a Magdalen woman relative to her admission to, and work in, any of the institutions specified in the Schedule in the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015.

We require additional information to provide an appropriate service for individual women. It is our intention to establish contact with these women to determine their individual requirements, outside those who may already be receiving counselling through existing services.