Vol. 441 No. 7
89 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Health the total number of people in the State who suffer from physical disability either from birth, accident or operations such that they require the fitting and wearing of artificial limbs, that is prostheses for any limb or part thereof; and if he will give a breakdown of the total population above by age group, if possible.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The National Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, is the national limb-fitting centre in this country and I understand that in 1993, 506 artificial limbs were fitted.
I expect to receive the report of the review group on physical and sensory disability later this year. One of the issues being addressed by the review group is the establishment of a national database on physical disability which will facilitate the planning and development of services for people with disabilities.
