Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress she has made to ensure that all survivors of institutional abuse receive the Health (Amendment) Act card. [8430/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Amendment Act, 1996 (as amended) all individuals who are diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C as a result of the administration within the State of contaminated blood and blood products are entitled to a Health Amendment Act (HAA) card which gives them access on a statutory basis to a wide range of primary care and hospital-based services. The legislation provides clear scientific grounds for the definition of “diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C”. Under the legislation a diagnosis must arise (a) from a positive result from one of three specific tests for the presence of Hepatitis C virus, or (b) from the presence of antibodies to the virus, or (c) based on evidence of jaundice up to 16 weeks after the administration of Anti-D Immunoglobulin. The HAA card is provided to a very discrete cohort of patients.