Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

375 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 376[Mr. S. Power.]2004 provided for the Health Service Executive,which was established on 1 January 2005. Underthe Act, the executive has the responsibility tomanage and deliver, or arrange to be deliveredon its behalf, health and personal social services.This includes responsibility for the provision ofthe housing aid scheme in County Limerick, onbehalf of the Department of the Environment,Heritage and Local Government. Accordingly,my Department has requested the chief officerfor the executive’s mid-western area to investigatethe matter raised and to reply directly tothe Deputy.Questions Nos. 106 to 108, inclusive, answeredwith Question No. 78.Health Services.109. Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children the progress madeby her Department in reviewing the impact of thediabetes shared care pilot scheme in northDublin; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [5710/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): The Health Act 2004 provided forthe Health Service Executive, which was establishedon 1 January 2005. Under the Act, theexecutive has the responsibility to manage anddeliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf,health and personal social services. This includesresponsibility for diabetic services. Accordingly,my Department has requested the chief officerfor the executive’s eastern regional area to investigatethe matter raised and reply directly to theDeputy.110. Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste andMinister for Health and Children the action sheproposes to take to rectify a phenomenondescribed as dangerously inadequate staffing andfacilities that are seriously unsatisfactory, in viewof the external report launched on 7 February2005 by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Irelandconfirming that Ireland has the highest incidenceof cystic fibrosis in the world. [5711/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): The Health Service Executive,which has the responsibility to manage anddeliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf,health and personal social services, recently metthe Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and hasagreed to its request to establish a working groupto consider the recommendations in the report.The report provides an assessment of need forcurrent and future cystic fibrosis patients andmakes a number of recommendations with regardto numbers and types of staff appropriate for amodern multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis service.The report concludes that in the future it will beessential to base cystic fibrosis care in fewer unitsof a more significant size in order to sustainviable staffing levels and to ensure that staff havea sufficient workload to enable them to maintaintheir skills level.I understand the Health Service Executive andSt. Vincent’s Hospital, which is designated as thenational adult cystic fibrosis centre, are pursuingproposals to improve the physical infrastructureto support the highly professional treatment andcare services provided there at present.Hospital Charges.111. Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste andMinister for Health and Children the amountspent by publicly funded hospitals in the employmentof debt collectors in the years 2003 and2004; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [5712/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): The Health Act 2004 provided forthe Health Service Executive, which was establishedon 1 January 2005. Under the Act, theexecutive has the responsibility to manage anddeliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf,health and personal social services. The informationrequested by the Deputy is not routinelycollected by my Department. Therefore, myDepartment has requested the chief officer ofeach of the executive’s regional areas to replydirectly to the Deputy with the informationrequested.Health Service Staff.112. Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children when funding willbe provided to sanction staff for the remaining 20beds at Birr community nursing unit; the numberof extra staff which will be sanctioned; and if shewill make a statement on the matter. [5713/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): The Health Act2004 provided for the Health Service Executive,which was established on 1 January 2005. Underthe Act, the executive is required to manage anddeliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf,health and personal social services. My Departmentis awaiting the 2005 service plan from theHeath Service Executive. In the interim, myDepartment has asked the chief officer of theHealth Service Executive’s midland regional areato investigate the position regarding this projectand to reply directly to the Deputy.Health Services.113. Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children when a person (detailssupplied) in County Mayo will be called for a psychologyappointment. [5726/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. T. O’Malley): The Health Act2004 provided for the Health Service Executive,which was established on 1 January 2005. Underthe Act, the executive has the responsibility to