Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied there is sufficient community physiotherapy services in place for County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1713/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people waiting for community physiotherapy services in County Meath as of 31 December for each of the years 2002 to 2007 inclusive; the number of community physiotherapists as of the same timeframe; and if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [1715/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.

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. I understand that in some areas, the HSE has made arrangements 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.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, including physiotherapy services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matters raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.