558. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the total annual cost to the HSE of providing uniforms to Healthcare Assistants over the past five years, in tabular form; whether any assessment has been undertaken of the financial impact on staff of requiring them to purchase their own uniforms; and if she will provide details of any consultation undertaken with recognised trade unions prior to any decision to discontinue the provision of uniforms. [66537/26]

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.