Amputees can face long delays for prosthesis
Active: Amputee Ireland organise football training sessions
People who have lost a limb who are reliant on medical cards to get a prosthesis can wait more than six months in some parts of the country.
The delay in getting the artificial replacements can extend from 13 days in Donegal, 82 days in Monaghan to 189 days in Wicklow, according to Michael McWilliam from Amputee Ireland.
He pointed out that growing numbers of people were affected by limb loss through medical illness such as diabetes, birth defects or motorbike, car, farm, workplace and factory accidents.
He said Amputee Ireland represented the interests of more than 4,000 amputees in Ireland.
"A first or new prosthetic is expensive and not all amputees have medical cards. Those with private medical insurance experience rising premium costs yet decreasing benefits, and some insurance providers do not offer cover for a new prosthesis."
The organisation offers a range of support structures to amputees, their families and carers. Among the initiatives offered are football training sessions in association with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Details of sessions and locations are available on www.amputee.ie.
It has also recently launched an information leaflet that provides details of the services and supports available to amputees and their carers. The leaflet is available to view and download from www.amputee.ie or is available on request from info@amputee. ie (Tel: 01-679 3580).
Around nine in 10 of the Dublin Bus fleet is now accessible to wheelchair users.
The fleet will be 100pc accessible following the entry into service of the next phase of replacement buses in early 2013.
However, just 59pc of the Bus Eireann fleet can be used by people in a wheelchair.
With the introduction of 88 new vehicles early this year, that should increase to 67pc.
Within that figure, all of the city and town services are fully accessible. Subject to funding, it is the aim that the entire Bus éireann scheduled service coach fleet will have been replaced by wheelchair-accessible coaches by 2015.
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