Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
256. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health to provide a costing of introducing an enhanced HAA medical card scheme for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools, based on the current estimated survivor population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47903/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth’s Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 was signed into law in July 2025. The Act makes available - amongst other supports - the provision of health services without charge to survivors of residential institutional abuse, in the form of a medical card administered by the HSE.
The Medical Card issued under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act gives survivors the same access to all services covered by a Standard Medical card but also entitles them to some enhanced benefits. In addition to providing an entitlement to the same services as a Standard Medical card, the Card provided under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act is a life-long, non-means tested Card. Holders of the Medical Card for Survivors will not be required to pay prescription charges.
The health supports approved for survivors is tailored to their specific needs and has now been further strengthened by Government through the appointment of specified liaison officers which are now being recruited within the HSE and through improved access to State funded counselling and physiotherapy services.
Government previously approved the HAA card for a separate and distinct purpose (i.e. people who contracted Hepatitis C from contaminated blood or blood products). HAA cardholders have specific health needs as a result of having contacted a serious and life-threatening infection.Many of the services provided under the HAA card are already available under the medical card for survivors of residential institutional abuse - such as GP services, approved drugs, medicines, aids and appliances, public in-patient and out-patient services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services, physiotherapy, chiropody, home nursing, home support and counselling.
With regard to the estimated cost, further detailed work is currently being progressed in collaboration with the HSE to more clearly establish the estimated additional costs associated with the provision of additional services approved by Government in January 2026, over and above the existing provisions of the medical card under the Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025. In light of this ongoing work, a definitive cost is not readily calculable prospectively. The needs and support requirements of individual service users will ultimately impact on the demand for specific services and this in turn will have an influence on the overall costings involved. However, the average cost of a medical card to the State for a person over the age of 16 is approximately just over €1,900 per person per year, although this varies significantly depending on age and clinical need. The cost of additional benefits provided to survivors, such as the exemption from prescription charges would not be included in this figure.
