Vol. 497 No. 2
262 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the provision of physiotherapy in the North-Eastern Health Board area; if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth to ensure that adequate physiotherapy is afforded to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24896/98]
Physiotherapy is one of the services needing development identified in the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future. This year a total of £3 million was allocated to the health boards for development of these services, of which the North-Eastern Health Board was allocated £261,000. Priorities for the allocation of development funding are decided by each health board following consultation with the local coordinating committee for physical and sensory disability services. Priorities identified by the
North-Eastern Health Board for the 1998 development funding were residential and respite care and home supports.
The provision of physiotherapy services in individual cases is a matter for the relevant health board. Accordingly, I have referred the details of the case provided by the Deputy to the chief executive officer of the North-Eastern Health Board and have asked him to have the matter examined and to reply directly to the Deputy.
