After being told by the HSE that it couldn't afford the machine, members of Bruff Rugby Club, with the Ryan family from the Mid-West, set up the Coiscéim Eile Appeal to raise funds for the Lokomat machine, which is made in Switzerland.

In July 2001, a car crash left Joan Ryan partially sighted and her five-year old daughter Edel paralysed from the chest down.

The Ryan family told the Limerick Independent that it can't understand why the Government is insisting on the charity paying the enormous VAT bill for the machine, which the family says was previously provided tax free to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dún Laoghaire.

“We're very bothered about it. The same machine was donated to Dun Laoighre VAT free in April 2007. But it is only provided to in-patients. A zero VAT rating was applied. It would be so much easier for us if the same was applied to our charity,” Joan Ryan said.

The family added that by footing the entire bill for the machine themselves, it would save the Government even more money in the long run, because the Government isn't paying a red cent towards the cost of the machine.

The Coiscéim Eile Appeal has managed to raise more than €150,000, which it has used as a down payment to bring the Lokomat to the First Step Rehab centre in Patrickswell where it is currently being used.

The machine allows anyone with partial paralysis, or a multitude of other de-habilitating diseases such as stroke, cerebral palsy, to get exercise to combat muscle wastage and keep organs alive and is available from 8am-8pm six days a week.

Last Friday night, Bruff rugby club raised a further €14,000 however, there is anger among those behind the charity about the massive VAT bill being demanded.

“It's a little ridiculous looking for €60,000 VAT for a machine that would never have been brought into the country if the Coiscéim Eile charity had never been set up in the first place. Number One, it is people's goodwill that is paying for this, it's not costing the health board or the government one red cent. Number Two, the VAT money has to be collected from the general public. It's not as if it's a company that can claim this back afterwards. It's bloody ridiculous and it should be shouted from the rooftops,” said a spokesman.

Donations to the Coiscéim Eile Appeal can be made through the following: Account name: Coiscéim Eile; Account number: 90-40-68-98; Bank of Ireland, Cashel; Bank sorting code: 90-59-77.

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