Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement that he has had with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance in relation to his proposal to bring forward a Bill to provide life-long health and social supports to the survivors of thalidomide. [37667/22]

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.

In addition to an initial ex-gratia lump-sum and monthly payments for life, the supports provided by the Irish State to each Irish survivor 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.