Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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290. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date on the mechanism to deal with health care for survivors of the Magdalen Laundries that live overseas, as referred to by the previous Minister on 24 September 2014. [9382/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Quirke Report recommended that a provision of a comprehensive suite of health services be provided to the Magdalen Women. A specific medical card has been issued to these women so they can access the enhanced health services they require without charge. The number of women who have access to this Scheme in Ireland is 613.

There are a further 118 eligible women living overseas and although the Quirke Report did not make a recommendation that health services be provided to these women, the Irish Government decided that practical arrangements should be put in place to support these women. The HSE is currently exploring the arrangements to be put in place for these women. It is an extremely complex matter as health systems around the world vary in organisation and each system is practically unique and equally complex. Work in ongoing and it is hoped to have practical arrangements in place for these women in the near future.