Vol. 483 No. 3
231 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost to his Department of providing prescribed prostheses without charge to all children who have no limbs; and if he will consider a reform in policy to guarantee this service. [20584/97]
Prescribed prostheses are supplied free of charge to medical card holders. I have asked the health boards for the information sought by the Deputy and will furnish it to him when it is made available to me.
I might mention that the Government with the agreement of my colleague, Mr. Dermot Ahern, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, recently made £4.325 million savings in that Department available for the purchase of aids and appliances for people with disabilities. This will have a knock-on effect on the supply of prostheses.
