Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I read the report last week about a number of children in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin with tracheostomies. I understand parents have been trained to deal with the very difficult issues that arise for them personally due to their young children requiring such serious operations. They need to be able to deal with suction of the children’s air passages. Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, has done extraordinary work with babies and young children for many years. When parents are trained to deal with the problems that arise frequently in babies and young children, it is important for hospital staff to be fully satisfied that all the facilities in respect of home care packages - not least of which is the training given to parents, which I am sure is exceptional - are entirely focused on the protection, comfort and development of the baby or child. I have asked the Department of Health for a report on the issue. I would be happy to talk to Deputy Collins about it again.

In respect of the chief executive she mentioned, no more than anyone else, I have read the reports. I already answered questions from Deputy Martin and Deputy Adams on the matter. We need a complete picture of all of the section 38 agencies, of which there are 44. Today was the last day for receipt of the information. It is clearly stated in the circular letter and the internal audit information sent to all the agencies that non-Exchequer funding such as the receipts mentioned by Deputy Collins should not be used for top-up payments that are in breach of the public service pay contract.

There is a contract between the HSE and the voluntary hospitals. As we move towards hospital groupings, which will evolve into trusts, it will be possible to deal with all such situations in the future. We have a problem currently. I do not have the information because it will not be available until the close of business today. I hope that will be the case. When the report is furnished to the Minister for Health, he will publish it and it can be debated and dealt with in the context of the contract that exists between the HSE and the voluntary hospitals and agencies.

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