asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the particular difficulties of patients suffering from motor neurone disease, with special reference to their needs for aids such as special beds and walking aids; if he has any plans to make these available to non-medical card holders with this disease; the arrangements which are being made through the health board to provide for the special home care or home nursing needs of these terminally ill patients; if he will make a statement on his policy on this illness; the aid that he has given to date; and if he will consider awarding funds from the national lottery to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Written Answers. - Motor Neurone Disease Patients.
94.
There are no funds devoted to Motor Neurone disease specifically. Persons suffering from the disease are eligible for the general range of services which health boards provide. Health boards may make arrangements for the provision of home nursing care for patients suffering from this disease when required. Such persons may also qualify for disabled persons maintenance allowance and home help service. Special aids are provided free of charge to those who are medical card holders. Non-medical card holders are not entitled to special aids free of charge but health boards may make them available to patients having regard to their individual circumstances.
When hospice care is required arrangements may be made by the general practitioner or consultant to refer them for assessment to the appropriate local hospice.
An application from the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association for funding from the health allocation of the national lottery proceeds has been received by my Department. This application has been noted for consideration in the context of the lottery funds available for health services for the remainder of this year. When a final decision is reached it will be communicated to the association.