Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has informed her that orthotic services have recently been transferred from the hospital to the community setting with payment for such devices as orthopaedic footwear and insoles sanctioned by local health offices; and if the Health Service Executive has further informed her of their assessment of the success or otherwise of this transfer and of cutbacks it may be making in terms of front-line staff or local health office sanction of orthotic devices in order not to overspend its 2008 budget. [25702/08]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has informed her of an assessment it has made or is currently making regarding the impact of the recent move of orthotic services from the hospital to the community setting on patients who have recently undergone a surgical procedure substantially affecting their mobility notably, for example, a hip replacement; if the Health Service Executive has further informed her whether it has assessed if the recent move has resulted in patients having to walk and travel more directly after surgery than before to avail of orthotic services; and if the Health Service Executive will provide post-surgery preliminary orthotic services up to and including sanction for orthotic devices in the hospital setting in order to minimise the need for patients to have to walk and travel in a delicate state after surgery. [25703/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal 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.