Frances Fitzgerald
Question:312 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the availability of mobile electric wheelchairs from the Eastern Health Board; and the waiting list and budget for the allocation in this regard. [5157/99]
Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
I am informed that the Eastern Health Board does not have a specific budget for electric wheelchairs and these items are provided from the board's overall budget for aids and appliances. Since this Government took office an additional £9.325 million has been made available for aids and appliances, of which approximately one third would have been spent in the Eastern Health Board area. While specific figures for electric wheelchairs are not available, it is safe to assume that the additional funding would have enabled a substantial number of such items over and above the norm to be supplied. Persons seeking wheelchairs or other aids and appliances from the board are assessed by an occupational therapist. I understand that, as of November last, there were some 2,100 persons awaiting assessments. Persons awaiting assessment for a wheelchair are dealt with by the board on a Priority 1 basis and, once assessed, the order is processed immediately.
Statistics on the numbers of people awaiting assessment for electric wheelchairs in the Eastern Health Board area are not routinely gathered by my Department. I have asked the board to provide the information sought by the Deputy and I will communicate further when this becomes available.