Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be allowed orthodontic treatment without further delay. [15244/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in Dublin 12 rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a school dentist is attending persons in an area (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15255/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The management of dental services in the North Western Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the chief executive officer. Therefore, my Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to her directly.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he or any member of staff in his Department has been lobbied by the Irish Society for Autism for support in resisting pressure from the South Western Area Health Board. [15256/04]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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Officials in my Department have kept in touch with the South Western Area Health Board regarding the discussions which have been taking place between a number of the health boards and the organisation mentioned by the Deputy. As part of this process, my officials would be aware of some of the issues raised by the organisation during the course of their discussions with the health boards. However, the organisation in question would be aware from its contacts with my Department over the years that the approach taken by my Department to matters related to the provision of services is that these should be addressed in the first instance through the relevant health board or boards. While the Department did receive some correspondence in 2002 from individual families involved in the organisation concerning some aspects of these discussions, there has been no "lobbying" as such in relation to the overall service matters under discussion.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when approval will be given for an application for special housing aid for the elderly submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway with the Western Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15258/04]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the housing aid scheme for the elderly in the Galway area is operated by the Western Health Board on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply directly to him as a matter of urgency.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way in which an appeals officer who works for the Western Health Board can give an independent and unbiased opinion and decision on individual cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/04]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of appeals dealt with by the appeals officer in the Western Health Board in the past three years; the breakdown of the appeals; and the number which were successful and unsuccessful. [15278/04]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the identity of the appeals officer for the Western Health Board; the number of appeals officers employed for the Western Health Board; the salary of the appeals officer; if the position was advertised; the number of applications received for the position; and the number of interviews held in order to fill the position. [15279/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 to 271, inclusive, together.

Responsibility for the appeals system and related matters rests in this instance with the Western Health Board. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matters raised by the Deputy and respond to him directly.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 and the steps he intends to take to assist. [15288/04]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in the Dublin 5 area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Northern Area Health Board acting under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.