David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her Department's policy regarding the treatment of medical card holders by private physiotherapists; the plans to alter same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29948/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide community physiotherapy services but arrangements have been made in some regions to provide such services. Before the establishment of the HSE, the nature of any arrangements for community physiotherapy services and the level of service provided were a matter for individual health boards. As a result, variation in practice developed over time.

The HSE has informed me that, in some areas, local management have entered into Service Level Agreements with private physiotherapists to provide services to medical card holders who have been referred by their General Practitioners. These arrangements will be reviewed in the context of the ongoing development of primary care services and the legislative proposals being prepared by my Department to clarify and update existing legislation on eligibility for health and personal social services, including physiotherapy services.