Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1030. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that thalidomide survivors will now receive lifetime funding from the Scottish Government; and if he will consider similar supports for thalidomide survivors in Ireland. [37938/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to continue to provide survivors of thalidomide with the necessary health supports to meet their related needs.

Since 1975, Irish survivors of thalidomide have been in receipt of monthly payments for life from the Irish State. The range of supports provided by the Irish State to each Irish survivor also include a medical card on an administrative basis regardless of means, which includes access to a full range of primary care, hospital and personal social services, provision of appliances, artificial limbs, equipment and housing adaptations. There is a designated senior manager in the Health Service Executive who liaises with Irish thalidomide survivors and assists them to access supports towards their ongoing health and personal social service needs.

Work is underway in the Department to provide these health and personal social supports on a statutory footing as committed to by the Government.