Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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660. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 5 June 2014, if he will answer the specific question with respect to different policies between Cork-Kerry and the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25496/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As I outlined in my reply of 5 June, a standardised policy is not in place for the longer-term provision of bras to post-mastectomy patients who hold medical cards. The first prosthesis and two bras are provided free of charge to all such people throughout the country.

Variations exist across regions in regard to the longer-term provision of bras to post-mastectomy patients. Therefore, it is not an issue of one approach applying in the Cork/Kerry region and another applying across the rest of the country.

As outlined previously, a national group has been established in the HSE to review practices in the area of aids and appliances. As part of this work it will develop a national policy on the provision of prosthesis bras, as well as hairpieces, for cancer patients. It is anticipated that the Group will complete its work in the first half of 2015.