Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 272: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made by the Health Service Executive in addressing the increasingly common practice by chiropodists of charging a top-up fee of up to €35 for chiropody treatment to medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6932/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive, HSE, to provide chiropody services to GMS patients. However, in practice arrangements are made to provide these services. Before the establishment of the HSE the nature of the arrangements for chiropody and the level of service provided was a matter for individual health boards and so a degree of variation in practice developed over time. Priority is usually given to certain groups of people, including people who are medical card holders aged 65 years and over. In several regions the service is provided by private chiropodists by arrangement with the HSE.

I consider that it is inappropriate for private chiropodists who are providing services on behalf of the HSE to charge patients a top-up fee, and I have conveyed this view formally to the HSE. My Department requested the HSE to initiate a review of the fee arrangements in place for the provision of chiropody services, with a view to ensuring that such additional fees will no longer be levied on persons in receipt of this service. The HSE has recently advised me that it has initiated a review of chiropody services.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 273: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will establish with the Health Service Executive the extent of present provision of speech and language therapy services and physiotherapy services; if she will confirm that there is a waiting time of 16 to 18 months to see consultants and specialists at Temple Street University Hospital, Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6936/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.