From: angela.edghill@oireachtas.ie
Date: 11/09/05 11:46:03
To: angela.edghill@oireachtas.ie
Subject: Fw: People With Disabilities Paying Up To 100% Higher Prices on Basic Disability Equipment -Stanton

You may have seen reports of this in the Irish Independent today. Enda Kenny raised it with the Taoiseach in the Dail this morning. I will send on the transcript as soon as it is available. Feedback welcome. Regards Angela Fine Gael National Press Office Press Statement Leinster House Contact: David Stanton TD Dublin 2 Mike Miley Social, Family Affairs Ireland (01) 618 4254 / 086 3811203 and Equality Wednesday November 9th 2005
People With Disabilities Paying Up To 100% Higher Prices on Basic Disability Equipment -Stanton
Fine Gael Spokesman on Social, Family Affairs and Equality, David Stanton TD, today (Wednesday) exposed the massive differences in prices between the cost of disability equipment in Ireland and the UK. Publishing a research survey of disability equipment costs in Ireland compared with those available in the UK, carried out by the Party over the past month, Deputy Stanton expressed concern that people with disabilities in Ireland are being a ripped-off. It is time for an urgent review by the Competition Authority to examine why the equipment on sale by Irish suppliers is so much higher than their UK counterparts. If there are anti-competitive practices operating which keep prices artificially high they must be tackled now. Our survey (below) shows that people with disabilities, the HSE (formerly the health boards) and the tax payer are paying more than 100% in one case and by an average of 40% over a range of basic disability equipment. We looked at a range of 19 items of basic equipment such as mobility equipment, toileting aids and safety grab rails - which would assist people with disabilities in their daily living. We found that on average prices are up to 40% higher on those available in the UK. Of the 19 items surveyed, 5 were over 50% more expensive in Ireland. Only one item on the list was cheaper in Ireland than in the UK. In real money terms one item a stair lift proved to be over €600 more expensive than a similar model available in the UK. The bill for the 18 items of equipment in Ireland is €2,512 higher than it would be in the UK. These higher prices have profound effects both on people with disabilities as individuals many of whom would be in fixed incomes on voluntary groups assisting people with disabilities and the elderly and on the State. The Health Services Executive which supplies this equipment is in many cases buying at the inflated prices we have uncovered. There has been substantial investment in disability related services over the last decade, with mixed results. In 2005 alone over €3 million additional cash was allocated for the purchase of aids and appliances. Tackling these high prices would help to save up to €857,000 of that money and those savings could be used to provide services to more people. The Government has failed to deal with this rip-off, despite it having been brought to its attention over 18 months ago. The HSE must urgently examine the issue of price differentials to ensure that neither people with disabilities nor the State is short-changed. Ends Editors Note: Table showing disability equipment comparison between UK and Ireland follows The survey of 19 items of basic equipment was carried out in September 2005. Invoices are retained for verification. None of the prices include VAT since VAT can be claimed back on some items and not on others.