Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be transferred from an accident and emergency facility to secondary nursing home or step down facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21163/06]

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.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that people who are under 66 and are diabetic will have free access to chiropody services in view of the vital importance of such services for diabetic patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21164/06]

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, e.g. 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.

My Department is currently preparing legislation to clarify and update existing legislation on eligibility for health and personal social services. The Bill will define specific health and personal services more clearly; define who should be eligible for what services; set out clear criteria for eligibility; establish when and in what circumstances charges may be made and provide for an appeals framework.