Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who is not a medical card holder is entitled to a breast prosthesis. [15315/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the development of services for symptomatic breast disease patients, designated funding was made available to each health board and the ERHA to enable them to provide a prosthesis service to all breast cancer patients, irrespective of the patients medical card status. Since 2001 my Department provided approximately €1.2 million to ensure that all post operative breast cancer patients requiring prosthesis and bra fitting are provided with the initial prosthesis and two bras free of charge. This year my Department provided an additional €15 million to meet service pressures in oncology, including symptomatic breast disease services.

My Department has asked the CEO of the Northern Area Health Board to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.