Limerick East): There are no official statistics available for the number of persons with physical or sensory disabilities. However, estimates of the number of blind people are available from figures kept by the National Council for the Blind and these are given in the table hereunder.
The lack of reliable information on the numbers and service needs of people with disabilities was one of the matters which was examined by the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities. In its report Towards an Independent Future, published in December last, the group recommended the establishment of a database on the health service needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities and steps are being taken to implement this recommendation.
Blind in the Republic of Ireland