Further to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 584 of 2 October 2012 and the Deputy's Parliamentary Question for today, Tuesday 16th October 2012, I wish to inform the Deputy that the Health Service Executive (HSE) does not operate a national scheme with a fixed list of entitlements which includes footwear allowances to people who require orthopaedic footwear. Local offices may operate a discretionary budget which covers a wide range of items ranging from mobility aids to communication aids. It is possible that some individuals have received orthopaedic footwear in the past from this source.
The HSE has agreed to a number of non-service impacting cash reduction measures, which includes a €3 million saving from the aids and appliances budget. However, the HSE has not issued a national instruction to exclude items from this budget, which is decided on a case by case basis at local level.
Approval of items is based on detailed information received and with the assistance of local prioritisation guidelines to ensure that people with the most urgent assessed needs have their needs met first, within a set monthly budget. All professionals providing community based services will be aware of the prioritisation criteria and will provide any necessary and urgent items of equipment following appropriate assessment, as soon as possible.
The position in the area identified in the details supplied by the Deputy, the Dublin South East/Wicklow Integrated Service Area, is that aids and appliances are provided by the HSE on the basis of a priority system and within budgets that are provided for these devices. These priorities are set by clinical staff on the basis of patient need. Within those constraints every effort is being taken to ensure the supply of orthotics, specialised footwear and other development supports for children. Where there is insufficient budget to provide a device immediately, waiting lists are in place for the provision/allocation of such devices.
