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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Treatment abroad for William Moore

Summary

Deputy Newsome Drennan raises the case of a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy needing treatment in Boston not covered by the scheme. The Taoiseach asks for the details again and promises to follow up, though she says the information was already sent.

Four weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the case of four-year-old William Jonathan Moore who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As I said at the time, his condition is so rare that no treatment is available in Ireland or the EU. William has been accepted for treatment at the Boston Children's Hospital but the United States is not covered under the treatment abroad scheme. The Taoiseach told me here in the Dáil:

If it is only available in the US, we should do something about that. I will come back to the Deputy about it and will talk to the Minister for Health.

In the past four weeks, neither I nor William's family have got any update despite our requests. How is this acceptable? The Taoiseach said we should do something about it and that he would talk to the Minister. Is he actually going to do something to help this family? Will he stay true to his word? Is he going to talk to the Minister for Health to help to find a solution for William and his family? This is a time-sensitive case.

Comment on this

Will the Deputy bring the details of the case to me after this session? I will then deal with it.

Comment on this

We have already sent them to you. I then sent them to you again. It keeps going back to the Minister for Health but I am not getting a response.

Comment on this

I am only a phone call away. I will talk to the Deputy afterwards.

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