Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Mother and Baby Homes
Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, taking into account the urgent medical need of the applicant for their enhanced medical card as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1273/25]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same.
The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application process and making decisions on applications. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in the process in relation to the status of individual applications.
In addition to a range of applicant supports such as a help-line, public representatives can contact the Payment Scheme Office via a dedicated email address if they are assisting constituents in relation to the Scheme.
It is ultimately the aim of the Payment Scheme Office to ensure the correct benefits are made available to the correct applicants in as timely a manner as possible. Where an applicant is found to be eligible for the Scheme medical card, the Payment Scheme Office notifies the HSE who then issue the card.
I suggest that the applicant in question contacts the helpline directly - 01 522 9992 and I am sure she will be assisted appropriately.
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