Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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321. To ask the Minister for Health if all refugee children have the same access to health services as children who are Irish citizens, that is CAMHS, dental services and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2291/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Access to health services for those who are ordinarily resident in Ireland is based on a determination of eligibility in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). This is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) upon receipt of the relevant application. Further information can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/apply/.

Individuals with eligibility for a medical card can access a range of services including General Practitioner (GP) services, prescribed drugs and medicines on the HSE reimbursement list, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards, including consultant services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic, and aural services, aids and appliances, and maternity and infant care services.

For those not eligible for a medical card, a GP visit card provides for visits to a participating GP service without fees and also covers visits to GP out-of-hours service. All children under 8 years of age living in Ireland can get a GP visit card, which provides:

• free GP visits
• assessments at age 2 and 5
• out-of-hours urgent GP care
• care for children with asthma

Those without eligibility for a medical card can benefit from other community drug schemes. For example, under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines. Further information can be found at: .